POLICE have successfully caught a bunch of youngsters who were "distressing" residents by playing knock and run.

Youths have been pranking residents in Wool, Purbeck, with the game over the past few months.

According to officers, they have been striking between 4pm and 7pm.

The game has caused "some alarm and distress" to residents in the village, police have said.

But last night (February 15), two police officers managed to find those responsible while providing "reassurance to residents".

A Purbeck police spokesman said: "Last night officers from the Purbeck neighbourhood policing team were on anti-social behaviour patrols in Wool and Wareham.

"Over the last few months in Wool, some residents have been subject to door knocks and run from young people between the hours of 4pm and 7pm.

"This has caused some alarm and distress to several of these residents.

"PC 2958 and PC 2925 managed to locate those responsible. They have also provided reassurance to the residents."

Meanwhile, it go so bad in nearby Wareham in summer 2022 police officers started to install CCTV cameras and spoke with parents.

The game, which has been played by children for many years, is also called knock-a-door-run, knock down ginger, ding dong ditch and ring and run.