YOUTHS congregating around a Kidderminster subway sparked a record number of calls of complaint from worried community housing tenants living nearby.

Latest figures reveal a soaring increase in complaints of anti-social behaviour in parts of Greenhill from the usual district average of four per month for every 100 community housing tenants to a massive 40 in September.

District councillor Graham Ballinger, said, however, he was angry that no explanation was given for the dramatic rise when it was reported to the Greenhill Tenant Consultative Committee meeting.

He said: "At the TCC meeting this week, nobody could explain the appalling increase. There was nobody there from the company's anti-social behaviour unit and, on top of that, as all too often happens, there was no-one there from the police.

"It is all very well to put these alarming figures on the table but what is the point if there is no-one there to explain what has happened?"

The figures related to complaints from community housing tenants in the George Street, Charles Street, St George's Court and Baxter Gardens area.

Wyre Forest Community Housing strategy and marketing manager, Fiona Law, said last month's increase related to a number of tenants who were concerned about youths congregating by the nearby Ringway subway.

"They correctly informed us through the ASB unit and we took steps to increase our neighbourhood warden patrol in the area," she said.

Mrs Law added the wardens had spoken to the youths to make them aware of residents' fears and were encouraging them to take part in more positive activities than just hanging around.

"We will monitor the situation to ensure that there is an improvement and will keep the tenant consultative committee informed," she said.

Mrs Law added a member of the company was at the meeting and, with hindsight, should have been briefed by a member of the ASB unit on the reason for the sudden increase.