A skateboarder who caught the eye of Silsden’s town mayor after footage of him in Silsden memorial gardens was posted on You Tube has received a warning from police.

Sgt Jo Beecroft, from Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the youth had been given “a strong telling off” about the incident, in which a bench was allegedly damaged.

Silsden mayor Councillor Allan Edwards had seen footage of the skateboarder using the bench in the memorial gardens, which “notably dipped in the middle” as he rode across it.

Sgt Beecroft said: “He was still wearing the same top he had on in the film when I went to speak to him, so he was easily identifiable.

“He has had a telling off from me and his parents have been notified. The bench itself is quite worn so I cannot say that it was him who caused it damage. I took him away from his group of friends, who are the main skateboarding group in the town, and spoke to him so hopefully the message that it will not be tolerated will get back to the others.

“He certainly won’t be stupid enough to put it on You Tube again.”

Councillors then praised Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team for its work as Sgt Beecroft reported very low crime statistics in the area for last month.

She added: “We have seen a slight increase into December, with two motor vehicle thefts, and I would warn everybody to stay alert and security conscious on the run-up to Christmas.”