A DEVICE introduced to deter anti-social behaviour is being banned by Lancashire County Council - because it breaches young people's rights.

The "mosquito" was first used in Hyndburn last October at All Saints Primary School in Clayton-le-Moors, where youths were hanging around vandalising seats and daubing graffiti on walls.

It has since been used extensively on the skatepark in Great Harwood which is repeatedly targeted by vandals.

The mosquito emits an irritating, high-pitched but harmless sound which can only be heard by people under 25, forcing them to move on.

All Saints headteacher Peter Jump said: "I can't understand why the county council has decided what it has. It was a huge success here."

Lancashire County Council claimed the devices were discriminatory and at the latest meeting of the Cabinet members passed a resolution to ban them from any property which they own or lease.

The meeting heard that the devices cost around £600 and trials showed that teenagers found them annoying.

Council leader Hazel Harding said the device contradicted the authority's duty to represent young people and listen to their concerns.

She added: "We are against the use of mosquitoes as they assume all teenagers in the vicinity are behaving anti-socially.

"We have been advised that using these devices could be in breach of an individual's human rights as they prevent freedom of assembly and impact on the right to respect for private and family life.

"The fact is that if these devices singled out any other group in society there would be an enormous outcry."

County Councillor Harding said she felt the devices punished young people simply for being young.

Concerns were also raised about the potential for hearing damage as a result of the devices.

Although the county council can advise headteachers about its recommendation to remove mosquitoes, it can't enforce it.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Council said it had no plans to follow suit in banning the devices.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said he was unable to comment on the issue.