Mid Sussex residents say they have been plagued by youths using bad language and climbing on to a bus shelter.

Groups of youths have been intimidating people and using threatening behaviour in Crawley Down.

The trouble has prompted police to take on more special constables to patrol the area.

In one case, Worth Parish Council had to remove the seats from a bus shelter to stop them being vandalised.

Chairman of the council Christine Hastie said: "In the last few months it has been getting to the stage where it is becoming intolerable.

"Youths have been congregating and have been intimidating. It is just a few that seem to be causing the problems. They try to disrupt things, particularly at youth clubs.

"We must all work together as a community and we as a parish council will do all we can to help get rid of these people disrupting our lives."

The parish council is working with police and other community partners and residents, who will be able to report any crimes or information about known offenders to a crime prevention adviser.

Superintendent Mark Streater, commander of Weald Division, said officers would be working closely with Worth Parish Council, Mid Sussex District Council, schools and youth services but he said the support of local residents was needed too.

The campaign comes following a public meeting at Imberhorne School in East Grinstead last week when almost 500 turned up.

A blueprint for action to tackle youth antisocial behaviour in Crawley Down has already been agreed.

Police will be targeting additional resources where the problems are most likely to happen and they will also be launching a community safety group.

Its first meeting, which will be chaired by Mr Streater, will take place on February 26 at 7pm at the Meridian Hall, East Grinstead.