AN under-used play park should be turned into woodland to stop anti-social teenagers making life a misery for residents, according to Worcester MP Mike Foster.

He wants the city council to pull up the play equipment - between Tolladine Road and Barley Crescent, in Warndon - and turn into a mini-woodland landscape.

"Complaints have gone on for quite a while now - certainly over a year - and the behaviour of young people has been unacceptable," said Mr Foster.

"It's a pity that play equipment provided for young children in the area has been vandalised and abused by older children."

He said the only solution was to take the equipment away.

A resident of Barley Crescent, Chris Briscoe, said it was time for action.

"Kids break bottles and vandalise the equipment - it's not young children who use it.

"I wouldn't let my kids hang round that park, and it's about time something was done.

"This time last year, the anti-social behaviour in the park was something else. At the moment, though, it's been quiet" said the 42-year-old.

But Warndon Parish North council member Stephen Hodgson called for caution.

"We need to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour, but it would be premature to make such a decision.

"If you make it into woodland, they can still cause a nuisance."

Reducing the amount of open play area for youngsters required careful examination before changes were implemented, he added.

Parks and cemeteries manager Ian Yates said the city had 60 play areas, and there was a concentration in new estates like Warndon Villages.

He was unwilling to comment on the particular playground, but said his department was working in partnership with Worcester play council to produce a strategy to ensure facilities continued to be improved.

"I was made aware of the plans for the play park late last week, and we're looking into them."