TOP-LEVEL action is needed to clamp down on anti-social behaviour by a "wrong" element in a Flintshire town, an elder statesman says.

North Wales Police (NWP) officers are investigating an incident which occurred on Monday evening on Henry Taylor Street, Flint.

An NWP spokesman said: "The incident involved youths who appeared to be targeting a particular address.

"When police were called, the youths all ran away.

"Police are committed to fully investigating this matter and various pieces of video evidence have now been supplied to us.

"We will be scrutinising the footage, so please be assured that if offences are identified on the footage then the police will be taking robust action against those responsible."

Meanwhile former Flintshire county and Flint town councillor Alex Aldridge believes it is now time to call on the elected representatives - the six county councillors of Flint, Hannah Blythyn AM and David Hanson MP - to put a stop to this "nonsense".

Mr Aldridge, who served as a Flintshire councillor for more than 20 years, said: "Those in higher authorities should call a task force with the police to allow the public to air their concerns.

"They need to come to a clear resolution on how to stamp this anti-social behaviour out before it comes to an awful ending.

"Either the individuals carrying out the behaviour, or the victims, are going to get hurt."

Mr Aldridge's son, Ian, who spent eight years in the RAF working as a propulsion technician, said: "As an ex-serviceman I've seen many things and I'm shocked at what I've seen.

"This isn't the town I grew up in. The bottom line is none of us wants conflict, but I now know people are walking about this town in fear.

"It's deplorable."

A video of the incident has appeared on social media, which has been shared by nearly 5,000 Facebook users and viewed more than 300,000 times.

Flint town mayor, Cllr Vicky Perfect, fears this projects the wrong image of the town.

Cllr Perfect said: "The whole incident is completely out of hand. It's horrible and Facebook has made it worse.

"We will be having a meeting which will be beneficial with the police, David Hanson MP and Hannah Blythyn AM to see if we can find some solution or light at the end of the end of the tunnel.

"There is an element in the town who unfortunately think they're a law unto themselves. The whole situation is wrong.

"But Flint is not all bad. There are some good things, and nice people in the town who are busily going about there lives and helping others."

Delyn AM Hannah Blythyn said: "Anti-social behaviour is detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of our communities and it is important that we all work together to bring it to an end.

“A partnership approach is required to ensure we all live in a safe environment and I would encourage all members of the community to come together with the relevant authorities to ensure positive action is taken on this issue.”

Cllr Perfect said on a more positive note she is looking forward to putting the "unsung heroes" of the community in the limelight.

During the town council meeting on Monday, April 23, a civic award ceremony will be held to honour those nominated for their outstanding and unwavering contribution to the community.

BLOB Comment on page 13.