MP Mike Foster has been accused of "playing with people's emotions" after launching a scathing attack on councillors and their part in the fight against anti-social behaviour.

He claimed councillors were shirking their responsibilities and leaving the job of sorting out "yobs" to Worcester police, and criticised the fact only one anti-social behaviour order - which councillors can apply for - had been imposed in the past two years.

Mayor David Clark said Mr Foster was misleading the public about the community-based orders, aimed at people causing harassment, alarm or distress.

"Anti-social behaviour is essentially two-fold - issues to do with housing, like nuisance neighbours etc, and crime, such as you see on the high street," added Coun Clark, who also chairs the City Network Anti-Crime Initiative.

"Councillors don't tend to seek the orders in their area of housing because our council officers are so good at their jobs.

"They mediate and arbitrate extremely well and Mike Foster should be praising them, not blaming councillors.

"It's crime that's the problem, which lies in the hands of the police.

"His intentions are clearly politically motivated, having a swipe at the Tory-run council while playing with people's emotions."

Mr Foster attacked the council for failing to use the tools available to them after angry residents in Nunnery Wood said they would rather take the law into their own hands than wait for officers to arrive.

According to guidelines, local authorities and police are both entitled to apply for ASBOs, which aim to halt persistent and serious anti-social behaviour in anyone over 10 years old for a minimum of two years.

A breach, without reasonable excuse, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Independent councillor Mike Layland said Mr Foster was simply "passing the buck" and Worcester's problems arose from having an under-funded police force.