POLICE have vowed to act to stop youths damaging an historic former toll house when they jump into the Thames.

Swindon youngsters are among those who flock to Lech-lade in fine weather to fling themselves into the river.

Last year they started using the Grade II* listed toll house, as a platform, clambering on the roof for a good diving spot.

As a result, the building on Ha'penny Bridge suffered damage put at thousands of pounds.

Youngsters have been jumping off the bridge during the recent hot spell, although they have not yet started getting on the roof.

Gloucestershire police want to ensure that no damage is done.

Chief Insp Jim McCarthy has drawn up a plan to stop the trouble from getting worse.

A police architectural liaison officer will visit the bridge to see what physical changes can be made to stop river diving.

There will also be extra patrols around Lechlade, and signs put up on the bridge warning people not to use it for diving.

And officers will visit pubs to ensure underage drinkers are not being served.

The Environment Agency, which manages the River Thames, is also working with police in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to see if a bylaw prohibiting people making a nuisance of themselves to boaters can be applied.

Town mayor Mike Cawsey welcomed the action.

At Easter, louts hurled mud from the river bank at a boat used by the Cotswold Canal Trust for river trips.

Coun Cawsey said: "This is just mindless behaviour.

"And when tourists see louts drinking beer and behaving like hooligans on the bridge, it puts them off coming into the town.

"They can make people feel very uneasy.

"I'm delighted the police and the Environment Agency are working to solve the problems."

A spokesman for Gloucester-shire police said: "What we aim to do is try to tackle the problems at an early stage rather than just reacting to the resulting behaviour."

Tamash Lal