PRIVATE security guards are to remain in a village blighted by young vandals after an initial trial period proved a big success.Glemsford Parish Council recently became the first in Suffolk to use taxpayer's money to employ private security guards to patrol the village streets in a bid to deter the young vandals.

PRIVATE security guards are to remain in a village blighted by young vandals after an initial trial period proved a big success.

Glemsford Parish Council recently became the first in Suffolk to use taxpayer's money to employ private security guards to patrol the village streets in a bid to deter the young vandals.

Councillors are now asking the guards to stay for at least another three months after being informed that crime in the village has fallen since they arrived in March.

Ipswich based Timely Help Security were hired by the parish council to carry out patrols in the village every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Councillors controversially decided to use parish funds to employ private security guards because they felt it was the only option left open to them.

People in the village had become fed-up with the amount of vandalism in their community. On some occasions the village hall and sports pavilion were being damaged on an almost daily basis.

Others were also concerned about the low police presence in the village and lenient way young vandals where being treated when caught.

The security guards were originally due to stay until the end of May, but have now been asked to stay longer by the parish council.

Parish clerk Sara Turner said: "During a meeting this week our community police officer told us crime has dropped since the security guards come here. We are very pleased with the way the trial has gone, the company has offered us an excellent deal and we will be employing them for at least another three months.

"We will reassess the situation again in August, but at the moment the security guards seem to be deterring the vandals."

Councillors in Glemsford have also introduced a policy of taking out private prosecutions against the parents of any youngster caught damaging village property.

Northampton County Court recently ruled that one mother, whose son was caught damaging the village hall, must pay for the repairs.