RESIDENTS have been left "distressed, anxious and fearful" because of a rise in anti-social behaviour in Amesbury. 

That's according to Salisbury Police, which has said it is receiving an increasing number of calls relating to behaviour in Harvard Park, as well as surrounding streets.

In a post on Facebook, the force said local officers have been dealing with groups of 40 or more including children as young as 13, hanging around with much older teenagers or even adults, late into the night.

The post added that some members of the group have been banging and kicking doors and windows, pushing over bins, spitting and swearing at members of the public, playing loud music and dancing and smoking in the park.

PC Mears said: "These actions are causing some local residents to be distressed, anxious and fearful of leaving their own homes. They don't feel like they can venture into the local park which is a main through-fare for many residents.

"I'd like to ask parents 'do you know where your children are?' Many of the young people we have spoken to openly admit that they have lied to their parents saying they are at youth clubs or staying with friends, or other venues.

"We're concerned that parents are unaware of what they're children are up to late into the evening and that they are unsupervised and could be vulnerable.

"We've also identified children from other areas to gather here, some as far away as Salisbury.

"It is your parental responsibility to know where your children are and what they are doing."