LARGS Thistle is joining forces with police and the community to provide free football for youngsters at Barrfields Park.

Thistle have agreed to open the doors of their 3G astroturf facility to allow teenagers to use the facilities after a plan was devised to combat yobs.

Concerns had been raised at a recent Largs Community Council meeting over lack of access for football facilities in the area.

Sergeant Mark Semple, of Largs police, said: "Following on from recent discussion at Largs Community Council about access to sporting facilities over the coming months, discussion have been held between Largs Thistle, councillors, the local authority and students at Largs Academy.

"This has resulted in Largs Thistle allowing access to facilities over the summer period for the community to use."

A crackdown on youth disorder is being launched in Largs - after we revealed yobs had caused damage running into thousands of pounds at a prized £400,000 sports hub.

Clubs, police, schools and community workers came together to try and find a solution to the local youth disorder issue after serious damage was done to Inverclyde Sports Centre's football pitch.

As reported recently, vandals burnt holes in the astroturf surface and smashed dugout windows at the recently revamped facility.

The solution is supervised access at Barrfields Park, which will allow it to open on summer evenings.

The astroturf pitch was built at Barrfields ten years ago thanks to a £700,000 donation by Euromillions winners Colin and Chris Weir.