A PARISH council chairman says he believes a lack of parental control and alcohol are responsible for much of the vandalism in his community. Cllr Robin Oakley spoke out following the latest spate of damage caused by yobs in Staplehurst, near Maidstone.

At the weekend a group of youths trampled through the front gardens in Church Green damaging shrubs and hedges. Cllr Oakley, speaking at a parish council meeting, commented: "A lot of it comes down to lack of parental control. When people are under the age of 18 they are under the restriction of their parents.

"I believe alcohol comes into it and it comes from home. When you see children rolling in the street from drink you have a serious problem. Residents and the parish council are sick and tired of the vandalism."

Recently, a bus shelter at The Quarter was vandalised for the third time this year, windows were smashed at the village library, gutters broken and the public toilets at The Parade targeted.

During the meeting, Sgt Barry Knott and PC Alan Stanley, of Maidstone and Malling Police's Rural Task Force answered questions. Sgt Knott said: "The police know who the culprits are and the longer it takes to catch them the worse it will be for them.

"They are beyond the naughty boy stage and need to be caught and made an example of - but the police do need evidence from the public."