THE town centre of Blackwood is being "unfairly portrayed" as a place where young people are out of control, according to a local councillor.

Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix says the majority of young people who come to the town simply want to enjoy what Blackwood has to offer.

He spoke out after the Argus reported on Saturday that youths in the town had been caught on a CCTV camera turning a road into a "treacherous skidpan".

Police are investigating an incident in which a gang of teenagers poured cooking oil on to a main road and then one teenager on a scooter towed others around on a dustbin lid.

The town has also suffered long-term problems with boy racers, who drive relentlessly up and down the high street or gather in car parks and disturb residents with loud music.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge described the teenagers' actions as "utterly irresponsible" and has called for tougher police powers and a curfew in the town, which he said was becoming a no-go area.

Councillor Dix said yesterday that only a small number of young people are out to cause trouble, adding that Caerphilly council needed to work more closely with the "troublesome minority" through youth services via an outreach programme.

"The police, parents and the council CCTV also have major roles to play in preventing incidents and bringing troublemakers to account," he said.

"Shop owners and licensees in the town are concerned that the negative portrayal of Blackwood is both unfair and damaging to businesses."

He said: "I would urge people to come and see for themselves just how much Blackwood has to offer as a major valleys town."

Councillor Kevin Etheridge, said yesterday however that he still believed the centre - in particular the north end of town - was becoming a "no-go zone".

"Residents see the area as out of control," he said. "I have also spent an evening with the police in Blackwood and have seen the problems for myself."

Blackwood police said inquiries into the cooking oil incident are still on-going.

PC Roy Bell said: "Nuisance behaviour is a nationwide problem. Blackwood is a busy town but it is no different from what happens in other towns in the country."

He acknowleded there had been problems but said they were being dealt with.

He said: "It's not a no-go area."