Truancy patrols may be stepped up in Worthing's parks and cemeteries in a bid to crack down on unruly teenagers.

Borough council parks manager Chris Bradley believes much of the vandalism is caused by schoolchildren who skip lessons to run amok.

He said it was a year-round problem which peaked during the summer holidays when park staff preparing for a cricket match at the Manor Ground, off Broadwater Road, were abused and threatened.

One groundsman was punched in the face, sparking calls for police action to break up the gangs.

More recently, clubhouse windows at the Manor Ground have been smashed and aerosols used to mark the cricket pitch stolen from a shed at the sports ground, where youngsters have been seen climbing on the sight screens.

Mr Bradley said many offences happened when the culprits should be at school.

He would be asking the council's community safety officer, Mel Stevens, to lobby the police and West Sussex County Council, the education authority, to step up patrols during term time.

Security has been increased at the town's cemeteries in Durrington and Broadwater after yobs wrecked family graves but Mr Bradley believes this has pushed the gangs into the parks.

He said: "The kids are still out there. They have not been deterred. They are still around and there is always an inferred threat."

There had also been problems at Church House grounds, Tarring, and Marine Gardens, West Parade.

Philip Papps, the county council's principal education welfare officer, said the council, together with the police, would be carrying out anti-truancy patrols in the town over the forthcoming months when parks and cemeteries would be targeted.

A county council spokeswoman said: "We work very closely with Sussex Police on truancy and have county-wide patrols.

"Any school-age child, on their own or with an adult, is stopped and asked why they are not at school."