Youths are drinking and gathering in Rubery's alcohol free zones nearly three months after they were set up.

Alcohol free areas were created at Callowbrook open space, including Brook Park, St Chad's Park and the alleyway in between Meadowfield Road and Belmont Road. They were set up on July 21 following incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

However, there have still been a number of calls to police from residents complaining about youths drinking in the area.

In response, police have stepped up patrols and have seized alcohol from youths, searched others and in one case took an underage drinker home because he was so drunk.

Now police are working closely with residents and shopkeepers to solve the problem of underage drinking.

Rubery beat manager PC Jayne Heraty said: "I have visited off licences in the Rubery area to formalise a local agreement that alcohol will only be sold to people over 21 who have identification.

"I would also ask members of the public not to buy alcohol for youths, as this is also assisting with anti-social behaviour and is also an offence.

"It is important that parents are aware that if their child is found drunk then there is a risk that they too could be arrested." Police are also using CCTV footage to identify offenders in the area and are currently studying footage of the Brook Park and St Chad's Park area.