MEASURES to tackle gangs of youths fighting and intimidating shoppers close to Tesco in Ingleby Barwick will be in place until Friday.

There were reports of about 70 youngsters gathered outside the supermarket on Saturday shouting abuse at shoppers, spitting and fighting.

A car was also damaged in the Tesco car park.

Police put a dispersal order in place on Sunday to allow them to move the youths on and tackle the many reports of anti social behaviour in the vicinity.

Now police teams are asking parents to keep an eye on their children and make sure they know their whereabouts.

A spokeswoman said: "As publicised earlier in the week... a dispersal order is in place to address reports of antisocial behaviour in Ingleby Barwick.

"The Neighbourhood Policing Team is reminding parents to make sure they know where their children are on an evening.

"Anyone identified as committing crime or antisocial behaviour can expect a visit from the police."

There are now calls for a police base in the new leisure centre being built at Ingleby Barwick.

CCTV identified a number of those responsible but on Tuesday night there was a report of a teenager being attacked by a group of youngsters in the area.

Stockton South MP Paul Williams visited Tesco on Sunday to discuss the issues with police and pledged to fight for more funding in Parliament for stretched police forces.