Police urged parents to keep tighter control of their children after a weekend of punch-ups and binge drinking.

Officers in Brighton and Hove were deluged with calls to deal with drunken teenagers and fights.

No serious injuries were caused but officers were kept busy breaking up gangs at Churchill Square, outside Sainsbury's in London Road and in the grounds of St Peter's Church.

Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine, city police commander, said: "My officers were called to numerous reports of groups of intimidating youngsters congregating in the city centre, drinking and causing harassment to members of public.

"The fact that these youths were undoubtedly in possession of alcohol or were under the influence of alcohol is particularly worrying and I urge parents to ensure they know where their children are.

"We have implemented a number of initiatives to clamp down on under-age drinking, including confiscation of alcohol.

"We will also use our powers under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 to disperse nuisance groups of youths from key areas in the city centre.

"Our actions will have no adverse impact on anyone who is in the town centre for legitimate reasons but the actions of some individuals require us to take strong action to address the worst cases.

"However, we are sending out a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

"People have the right to feel safe in their communities. It is unacceptable for people to be afraid to use public spaces such as cash points, bus stops and shopping centres because of threatening behaviour by groups of people.

"It affects the quality of life for people visiting, living and trading within the area.

"We have very close working relationships with the licensees in the city, whether they are pubs, clubs or off licences, and we will continue to remind them to be cautious at all times when serving alcohol and to always ask for ID.

"If young people are hanging around your premises, check with customers if they have been asked to buy alcohol on their behalf. If in doubt refuse the sale.

"The consequences are just not worth it.

"We will work with and support responsible licensed premises in our commitment to reduce alcoholrelated public place violent crime in all areas of our city.

"Those licensed premises that act irresponsibly, however, will be actively targeted over the coming months and any offences will be rigorously dealt with.

"We will also have no qualms in naming and shaming offenders.

"Teenagers can look older nowadays and it can be quite difficult for somebody running a bar or pub to know if they are under-age.

"The only way to be sure is to ask for approved identification such as PASS cards, driving licenses and passports.

"Parents should know where their children are and what they are doing.

"If they do not, they should find out before a police officer tells them their child has been found in a drunken state or involved in antisocial behaviour."