A GROUP of Bovey Tracey residents have spoken of their anger at youths smoking, shouting abuse and allegedly taking drugs.

Residents of Fore Street and South View who say the problem is getting worse, believe youths leaving the nearby Youth Cafe in Fore street are the culprits.

Police are monitoring the situation, the chairman of the cafe has met the town's mayor for discussions, and the cafe has taken on an extra staff member to tackle incidents outside the premises.

Alan Hale moved back to Bovey Tracey six months ago and lives near the cafe.

He said:'They shout, swear and spit.

'I've seen them urinate on the walls, they have been sick in the passageway and we've had eggs thrown at our windows,' he said.

Jane Reeves, Mr Hale's daughter, said: 'One lady told me that she saw the youths outside the cafe, and walked home again as she couldn't face walking through them.'

Mr Hale maintained that the youths' behaviour was out of order and police were not doing enough to tackle the problem.

'I don't know what to do,' he said.

'I have been outside and tried to reason with them. It is totally out of order, why should people have to tolerate this?'.

Many of the residents say some of the youths are also making excessive amounts of noise and leaving behind empty lager cans.

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was at the end of her tether.

She said: 'They start to congregate at 6.30pm and I've gone out nicely and said can you keep the noise down.

'I've been very nice about to them and said my little girl is in bed and can't get to sleep.

'That only aggravated it, as before long, cars and mopeds were revving right by my front door.'

She claimed youths have sat on her doorstep drinking beer and banging her door.

'I would invite the council and the youth's parents to come and sit in my house and see and hear what goes on,' said the resident.

Debbie White, manager of the youth cafe, defended the organisation, stating that a minority were spoiling it for those who do enjoy using its facilities.

She was optimisitic for the future and hoped the community and cafe can work together.

'There is a small group who do congregate outside people's houses, and we try to disperse them.

'We have now taken on an extra member of staff who will monitor the situation outside the cafe and tackle the problem,' she said.

She was confident the cafe was a positive venture, and was striving to resolve the problems, which occur outside the cafe.

'Inside the cafe, we do not tolerate any drugs or any alcohol. We will be running drugs awareness workshops in the near future.

'I want to be part of finding a solution to the problems outside,' she added.

John Midgeley, chairman of the Youth Cafe, said it was a 'delicate situation'.

He said: 'There is a problem with under-age drinking in Bovey Tracey in various places, not just outside the Youth Cafe,

'The ethos of the Youth Cafe is to provide the youngsters with an understanding of what is acceptable and what isn't.

'We do our best with our resources and have taken special efforts to provide extra help for outside the cafe.

'Whatever people say, the problems are relatively mild compared to how big the problems might be.'

Last week, Mr Midgely met mayor Cllr David Risdon for talks about a way forward.

They agreed that there was a lack of police presence in Bovey Tracey and have decided to meet regularly to discuss the future of the cafe.

Talks took place about regular meetings between the police and Mr Midgeley to find a solution.

But resident Margaret Drake said a solution can not be found.

'I've been here 22 years, now I think it has been spoilt. Debbie White is in a difficult position, as once the youths are out of the property, she has no control.

'She calls the police, but once they get there the youths are gone.'

She also said that on one occasion a number of youths blocked the access to Fore Street by lying across the road.

Sgt Karen Jones, based at Chudleigh, said that police were monitoring the situation outside the cafe.

'There have been a number of complaints about youths' behaviour at the cafe. We are in liaison with the people who run the cafe. It is one or two individuals who spoil it for the rest, and cause trouble.'