THOUSANDS of pounds are being spent by Princes Risborough Town Council each year to repair damage caused by youths.

The claim was made by Wycombe district councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown at a meeting of the Risborough Area Forum last Monday.

Cllr Bendyshe-Brown said that part of the problem was young people coming into the town from other areas after 10pm, when they know that police presence is at its lowest.

John Coombs, a Princes Risborough town councillor, highlighted the damage caused to the Dovecot, a listed building in Monks Risborough.

The council's insurance company are following up a claim against the two offenders.

Cllr Coombs added: "It's quite scary the ages of the children who are causing criminal damage.

"It's not older teenagers, we are talking about children aged 11 or 12."

Peter Roe, headmaster of Princes Risborough Upper School, said that the school had a part to play in averting the problem.

He said: "Some of the offenders undoubtedly come from our school and this is something we need to address."

The forum highlighted the lack of facilities available to youngsters in the town as a cause of the problem.

Cllr Bendyshe-Brown said that finding out new things for the youth of the town was among the priorities of the town master plan.

He said: "One of the thing we have asked to look at is what extra leisure facilities we require, both for the community as well as for youths."

The forum had earlier heard figures read out by Brian Hill, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.

These figures showed incidents of criminal damage that were said to have not been tackled in Risborough as effectively as elsewhere in the district.

In Princes Risborough the level of criminal damage decreased by one per cent, compared to a 12 per cent decrease in crime districtwide.

However, other police figures pointed to an overall decrease in crime in the town of more than 18 per cent which compares with the 5.4 per cent decrease across the district.

Mr Hill said: "It has been a very good year for police here compared to other parts of the Wycombe district.