PEOPLE living in Blackwood today called on police to take trouble-making youngsters off the streets.

But officers say they are not considering imposing a curfew in the town despite a recent wave of fighting and a new craze of youngsters "surfing" (riding) on top of cars.

Local councillor Kevin Etheridge is to urge Gwent police to implement a youth curfew between 9pm and 6am in the High Street.

Chief Superintendent Howard Rees will meet with Councillor Etheridge tomorrow to discuss the issue.

Police in Cwmbran and Newport have said they are giving serious consideration to banning youths from the streets at night.

Residents in Blackwood are now backing the call for a curfew in the town. Bill Bendall, 64, of High Street, Blackwood, said: "I have been going on about the troubles in the town centre for the last four or five years so I think a curfew would be a good thing.

"I think the CCTV cameras have pushed all the yobbos up the top end of the town and I think it is getting worse.

"I had a heart attack five years ago and the doctors said it was down to the stress I was suffering from with all the boy racers going up and down the High Street."

Bill Bleazard, 73, of Hall Street, said: "I think there was an improvement in dealing with anti-social behaviour but then it gets worse again.

"It is a continuing problem so I'm all for a curfew."

Councillor Etheridge said the town was getting a reputation for being like "Dodge City."

He said: "People no longer laugh when I say it is like the Bronx here.

"It is becoming a no-go area at night and I believe a curfew on youths would solve this."

Inspector Chris Hocking-Brown said it was "one or two people" who were spoiling it for the rest.

He said: "If you put a blanket curfew on the town, it won't work because 99 per cent of the people who come to Blackwood town centre to have a good time are law-abiding people who will be affected.

"We just don't have the problems to warrant a curfew in Blackwood."