A NEW bus shelter in Wythall which councillors criticised for attracting antisocial behaviour has been replaced - with one "equally as bad".

And Wythall parish councillors say the new Hollywood Lane shelter has already been vandalised and covered in graffiti.

Parish council clerk Pat Harrison said Bromsgrove Council agreed to replace the original large brick shelter after gangs of youths were congregating inside it and intimidating residents.

She said parish councillors requested a simple, small, plastic shelter near to the road.

But councillors were "shocked" when they saw its replacement.

She said: "The new shelter is huge - just as big as the last one - and equally as bad. It's in exactly the same place as the old one, is very enclosed and has seats inside.

"This is not what we intended and has made no difference whatsoever to the levels of antisocial behaviour in the area."

A Bromsgrove Council spokesman said a more modern shelter had replaced the original one but the council accepted antisocial behaviour was still a problem in the area.

He said officers had arranged for the vandalised shelter to be removed and "tidied up" before discussions between the parish council and local ward councillors took place.

He added the council would endeavour to provide a smaller, more suitable shelter for Hollywood Lane.