Anti-gang alarms being installed

The alarms are being put up in known trouble spots

A high-pitched alarm that can only be heard by young people is being used to break up gangs of youths.

The mosquito alarms are the latest tool in the fight against anti-social behaviour and are being installed in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

Research has shown that people over the age of 20 have naturally lost the ability to hear the ultra-sonic tone.

It is hoped the irritating sound will drive gangs away from trouble hot-spots where the alarms are being installed.

Claire Rawlins, Newcastle Borough Council anti-social behaviour officer, said: "The alarms have an effective range of 15-20 metres and the longer a person is exposed to the sound, the more annoying it becomes to them."