Kingsbridge councillors have urged the police to tackle the growing problem of illegal drinking at the memorial shelter in Embankment Road.

Gangs of local youths, aged between 14 and 18, have started to congregate at the estuary-side memorial shelter at the weekends, drinking alcohol even though it is part of a no-booze-zone.

The problem has become so bad that many elderly residents living nearby are too scared to venture out on Friday and Saturday nights.

Councillors want the police to target the area more effectively and confiscate the youngsters' alcohol.

"The older people are being severely disturbed and are frightened of the people there," said town councillor Wendy Rees.

Fellow town councillor Philip Yates warned: "I am sure that if nothing is done someone will fall into the estuary or a passer-by is going to be attacked in some way."

The town's police boss, Inspector Phil Chivers, said the area was part of the patrol route but noted that incidents can occur which require the police to divert to other places in the town.

Philip Yates, Kingsbridge town councillor: "I am sure that if nothing is done someone will fall into the estuary or a passer-by is going to be attacked in some way."

He also said he would look into new ways to make the area less attractive to youths.

At a recent town council meeting, chairman Rufus Gilbert said anti-vandal proof lighting could be positioned in the shelter.

But county councillor Julian Brazil says he is against this measure, claiming that such action may only disperse the anti-social behaviour elsewhere in the town.

Councillor Yates added: "There has to be a solution - that could mean the police going down there to see what is going on and confiscating their drink.

"It is illegal to drink there. There are signs up at the shelter and they are blatantly ignoring them."

Local youths used to socialise at the town's Quay House gardens but were forced to move when the town council installed CCTV cameras to monitor the area last October.

Richard Loxton, response officer at Dartmouth Police Station, believes the South Hams only has a minor problem with illegal and underage drinking.

"Some people would disagree with me, but I'd say the South Hams does not have a major problem with underage drinking," he told 999Kingsbridge.

"Kids will always want to experiment with alcohol and I don't think you'd be able to curb the drinking culture totally."

He added: "Overall, I think we're really lucky in the South Hams. Generally, the kids around here are good and just want to enjoy themselves.

"As with anywhere, there are a small minority who go out and drink to excess most weekends. And when they've had a few too many, they cause problems.

"Whether it be general noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour, or sometimes the more criminal end of the scale, such as criminal damage, assault or burglary, it is totally unacceptable."