A TYNE Valley village could soon be the subject of a public space protection order following a spate of anti-social behaviour.

Wylam has been beset with issues during recent weeks, with reports of teenagers jumping from the town's former railway bridge, drinking and urinating in the streets, and causing noise problems.

In response, Wylam Parish Council has been working with Northumbria Police to set out a PSPO that would allow Northumberland County Council to prohibit specified actions within a defined public area, such as drinking in public.

Speaking at the meeting, the council's clerk, Marie Moore, said: "I've spoken to police about what areas it would cover, what powers it would give and also what the process would be, and how the community might be involved.

"Given the timescale is in October, we do need to answer what's going to happen between now and then."

A dispersal order was put in place covering the village on the last weekend in June. Coun. Jacqueline Henderson said further dispersal orders were an option.

She added: "I've had a meeting with police . They can do a dispersal order with half an hour, so if it's a sunny day and hoardes of people were misbehaving we could ring them and police could put it in place straight away.

"The police said they're going to put new signs up on the bridge because they're concerned people are jumping off."

The council's chairman, Coun. Stephen Duckworth, commented that things seemed to be settling down.

He said: "It seems to me that things have got a little better.

"It seems to me like a result. We've done something that allows us to act proactively. There has been some tangible benefits already."