CUSTOMERS say a "ludicrous" decision to remove an anti-yob device from a Newport shop because it may infringe human rights will see the return of gangs of thugs.

The Mosquito device fitted to the Spar shop in Caerleon Road succeeded in cutting anti-social behaviour by 84 per cent since it was installed earlier this year.

But customers outside the shop yesterday said they could not believe their ears.

Shopper Mavis Nurmi, 70, of St Julians Road, a former audiologist for the Gwent Health Authority, said: "I don't believe it can be damaging at all. "They are going on about human rights but we also have the right not to be harrassed when we come out shopping."

Liz Roberts, 28, of York Road, agreed. "If it is successful in keeping yobs away then it should stay," she said.

Shirley Williams, 71, of Tudor Road, also wants the Mosquito to stay. "The reasons for removing it are ludicrous," she said. "It feels like we are giving in to the yobs all the time."

Les Chape, 78, of High Cross Drive, High Cross, said: "They should keep it up because it's serving a purpose. "Reasons for taking it down are over the top."

Robert Groves, 53, of Rosendale Court, said: "If it was the job they were designed for then there is no reason why it shouldn't stay up."

John Kirby, 87, of St Julians Court, could see both sides of the argument."You have got to look at the health risks as well as judging how successful it is," he said.

Yesterday a statement from Gwent police said the force was acting on advice from the Assembly. A spokeswoman said: "We would like to make it clear that while the Assembly are interested in all such initiatives at no time have they encouraged any trial nor asked for any one to be ceased."

The device, fixed to an outside wall by police, emits a high-frequency pulsing sound that can be heard by most people younger than 20 and almost nobody older than 30.

It is designed to irritate young people so much that they go away. But we exclusively revealed yesterday that Gwent Police say the device will be removed and no further devices put up until human rights and health and safety issues are resolved.

An e-mail from the New-port Community Safety Partnership outlines a number of reasons.

They include the fact it does not distinguish been young troublemakers and those who are not, infringes on human rights, people could have an accident trying to escape the sound by moving into the road, and that domestic animals might be affected.