YOBBISH behaviour is now "out of control" in the town, according to Princes Risborough mayor Gary Hall.

The claim was made at the annual town meeting last month, attended by more than 100 residents from the town.

Cllr Hall said that up to £40,000 was spent by the council in the last financial year dealing with vandalism and litter problems in the town's parks.

He said: "Yob behaviour is now out of control. It really is appalling and we are letting them do it."

Vandalism to the Dovecot, a listed building in Monks Risborough, was given as an example, and the council said they would be prosecuting two youths already caught throwing bricks at the building's thatched roof.

High Street shopowners have long called for the cameras after a series of vandalism attacks on their windows.

Panes of glass were smashed at Wainwright's shoe shop and the Old Cross Key doctor's practice in High Street on Friday, March 25.

This followed a break-in at Forbuoys newsagents in Bell Street, Princes Risborough, in the early hours of Tuesday, March 8, where cigarettes were stolen.

And Alan Turner, town and lighting committee chairman, said the council was wanted to install better CCTV to target the problem.

Cllr Turner said: "Vandal-ism is not going away, in fact it is getting out of control. We find ourselves in a situation where a small minority of the town's youth cause mayhem in the fabric of the community."

The council is putting £70,000 towards a 24-hour high-resolution system linked to the main control room in High Wycombe. The picture quality will be good enough to use for prosecution.

Wycombe District Council is set to look into the possibility of installing cameras after Lesley Clarke, leader of Wycombe District Council, held a meeting last Friday with members of the town council.

Cllr Hall said: "It was a positive meeting. The town council has £70,000 to put into it and we sincerely hope that the district council can match that figure. Hopefully the Home Office will then be able to put up the other £140,000. I don't see that being a problem."

The parents of the two vandals are set to be invoiced with a bill in excess of £5,000 from the council for damage.

Cllr Hall asked for support to take vandals to court.

He said: "It is down to us to prosecute. This is down to unparented layabout yobs. Parents don't care."

Proposals to fine families of vandals got unanimous backing at the meeting