PATROLS are being stepped up at a Dunfermline woodland after incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Fires have been started, glass has been smashed and litter has been left in Calais Muir Woods and now both Fife Council's safer communities team and the police will be patrolling the area.

Chair of the Calais Wood Conservation Group, Martin Willcocks, told the Press: "It's been an ongoing thing, there's always anti-social behaviour going on down there and Safer Communities Fife are well aware of that.

"From my understanding, they're going to up their presence in the area but they said that last year.

"It's been escalating since Duloch become an ever-increasing housing estate. The paths went in in 2015 to make it more accessible and from then on we started seeing shopping trollies going in laden with booze and more and more parts of the woods are being desecrated and set on fire."

Matin also believes that the presence of fast-food restaurants and little for teens to do in the area plays a part in the littering and anti-social behaviour happening in Calais Woods.

Fife Council's safer communities team manager, Tricia Spacey reassured that the team follow up on reports of anti-social behaviour across Fife and take the issue very seriously.

She said: "We highlighted the anti-social behaviour that has been taking place in Calais Woods in Dunfermline on our Facebook page.

"Fires have been started, glass has been smashed and litter has been left in the area.

"This type of behaviour is extremely selfish and dangerous, and we would urge parents of local young people to check where your children are and to speak to them about the dangers of this type of behaviour.

"Our safer communities officers and local police will be patrolling the area and, if appropriate, enforcement action will be taken.

"We would also strongly discourage the purchase of alcohol for under-agers, and ask that if anyone is aware of this happening, that they can be reported via https://www.fife.gov.uk/.../report-a-trading-standards-issue.

"You can also contact Crimestoppers or online https://www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/c3/ if you know of young people who are under the age and who are buying alcohol and consuming it."