THE gates of Fountain Fields park will continue to be locked at weekend evenings to keep anti-social behaviour at bay.

Middlewich Town Council’s external committee agreed to lock the park gates each night during the summer holidays.

With children now back at school, the gates are to remain open on weeknights, but will be locked on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Cllr Carol Bulman, Labour, told Thursday’s meeting: “There is not really a need to lock during the week, during term-time.

“The kids are at school, the parents – for the most-part – are not letting them out in the evenings as it gets darker.

“I think what we have done is show that it is a cared-for space, and I think kids are respecting that now.”

The committee agreed to lock the park gates every night during the October half-term break.

Closing times will be reviewed at each future meeting, in line with the darker nights during the winter months.

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Fountain Fields underwent a £300,000 refurbishment in 2018, but the park was peppered with anti-social behaviour incidents last year, leading to the original decision to close the park gates at night.

Cllr David Latham, independent, added: “I’ve been approached by five residents and they have all portrayed their thanks for the work that has been done on the park and how things have greatly improved with anti-social behaviour.”