FED-up councillors have set aside £5,000 to help stem the tide of vandalism plaguing a town recreation ground.

New Milton Town Council is holding back the cash in its upcoming budget process for use in the possible installation of a CCTV scheme at the Whitefield Road site.

A minority of youths continue to cause problems at the ground, clashing with elderly players at the nearby bowls club and wrecking equipment in the children's play area, leaving the council with repair bills costing thousands of pounds each year.

However, the town was recently overlooked in a funding bid by New Forest District Council for security camera systems, with government priority given to Ringwood and Lymington, instead.

However, town councillors are refusing to give up on the idea, and have commissioned consultants to examine other funding options for a CCTV project.

A report on the viability of such proposals will be put before members shortly.

Also in the initial 2002/03 budget deliberations, members have recommended that rent charges for the town's outdoor bowls club, as well as Lymington and New Milton FC, be put up by more than five per cent next year.