The Prime Minister has given his backing to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph's fight to stamp out "yobbish" behaviour on city centre streets.

The newspaper has been running its Shop the Yobs campaign since May, in a bid to get residents to report thugs to police.

And Tony Blair has welcomed the paper's fight, following the announcement of a Government crackdown which is also encouraging people to take a stand against anti-social behaviour.

New measures have also been announced to deal with "neighbours from hell", drug dealers, and abandoned cars.

Mr Blair said: "I welcome this campaign. Papers like The Evening Telegraph can play an important role in galvanising communities to help tackle the misery of anti-social behaviour.

"New powers coming into force build on progress like record police numbers, the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders and Criminal Justice Reform.

"They will make it easier to deal with anti-social behaviour and thuggery, from closing crack houses and evicting so-called 'neighbours from hell' to fixed penalty fines for graffiti or throwing fireworks.

"We have listened carefully in bringing in these powers.

"What is important now is local authorities, housing officers and the police use them."

The newspaper launched its campaign calling on members of the public to blow the whistle on trouble makers after increasing concern over gangs of youths terrorising residents.

In one incident a police officer was attacked at a skate park after he went to investigate reports of loud music, while in another a reporter and photographer from the Evening Telegraph were also abused and had their cars attacked as they worked on a city estate.