ACTION is being taken to stamp out anti-social behaviour in a park where young people have damaged a £20,000 youth shelter.

Paul Markham, who lives nearby, says he is subjected to torrents of foul-mouthed abuse every evening when he walks his dog through Taunton's Lyngford Park.

"The shelter hasn't been up a year, but there's been a fire there and other damage," said Mr Markham.

"They shout at me when I walk past and they play loud music late at night. It's spoilt the tone of the area."

A Taunton Deane Borough Council spokesman said the shelter replaced an old structure "to give young people in the area somewhere to meet up" away from the nearby shops and homes.

He added: "The youngsters were involved in the process and since it has been in place the number of complaints about poor behaviour has reduced.

"Sadly the shelter has been vandalised, but there are plans to repair it with some of the young people in the area volunteering to help raise the funds towards the costs."

The council is working with partners, including the One Team, the education service, social services, the fire service and faith groups to address a ranger of issues in "a long-term process".

PCSOs hold beat surgeries and have set up a programme with fitness group 1610 to build positive relationships and reward positive behaviour.

There are also plans to engage partners in the beat surgeries, Somerset Drug and Alcohol Service has been invited to send along peer mentors, and street pastors patrol the area one night a week.

Other initiatives include installing more facilities and litter picks run by St Peter's Church.

The council spokesman added: "As a partner in the One Team, Taunton Deane certainly recognises the problems with antisocial behaviour in North Taunton and is working with its partners to address this – for example by providing more activities, more involvement with families and providing facilities like the youth shelter."

Taunton Urban and Rural Sergeant Charmaine Dyer said: "There have been reports of criminal damage at the location, but due to the nature of the incidents and location, no suspects have been identified.

"Patrols in the park have been a priority for the Taunton neighbourhood policing team and response teams over the past few months.

"There is a fortnightly youth beat surgery held in the park to help us tackle issues.

"Throughout the summer we also put on various activities at the location.

"On Monday we ran an initiative with the council, with help from Link Power to begin work to repair the damage, involving young people from the area. There is further work to be carried out over the coming weeks."