City to have its own supernanny; PARENTING: Government's cash will tackle antisocial behaviour.

Byline: By Barbara Goulden

COVENTRY is to get a "supernanny" to help parents control their teenagers who hang around on street corners.

The government will pay for an expert to give mums and dads advice on bringing up problem kids.

The idea is to tackle the sort of trouble causing headaches for residents in Wyken where hooded teenagers hang around drinking, smoking drugs and causing vandalism.

The government is spending pounds 4 million on 77 guidance officers across the country. They will be trained child behaviour experts who will organise parenting classes or one-to-one tuition.

The idea was dubbed a supernanny scheme after a TV show starring Jo Frost who is brought in to sort out people's troublesome kids.

Parenting classes are also featuring in TV soap Coronation Street in which Gail Platt is trying to cope with son David.

The new national supernanny scheme will mean that, under a Police and Justice Act, local councils will be able to order parents of antisocial children to go on courses.

Home secretary John Reid defended the compulsory classes, saying such measures could "change lives" as well as save thousands pounds in the future.

The move was welcomed by some people in Coventry including a head teacher and a city councillor.

But not everyone is convinced.

Philip Eccles former co-ordina-tor of Neighbourhood Watch in Wyken, reckons more police would help tackle problem of yobs.

He said: "It might help if there were enough police to turn up to arrest culprits when you dial 999.

"Like many others, I've rung the emergency services many times when drinking, fighting and drug-taking is going on Caludon Castle park.

"But the police are always short-staffed and don't attend these incidents because they don't view them as a priority."

CAPTION(S):

OUT OF CONTROL... Will parenting experts like TV's Jo Frost (right) be able to tackle antisocial teenagers?