A police crackdown on under-age drinkers and stricter controls on mobs of youths have been promised in the wake of last weekend's riot in Wallingford town centre.

And the town council has promised to work with police, pub landlords and off-licences to "reclaim the streets in the evenings," according to mayor Nigel Moor.

The police operation was praised by the town council and so were the actions of the licensees of the Town Arms and the Boathouse pubs which refused entry to the troublemakers.

Trouble started after young people, who had been to the funeral of a 17-year-old Wallingford boy who committed suicide at Cholsey station, went drinking in the Riverside Park.

Fighting started when they were confronted by another group of youths. Police Community Support Officers tried to intervene but had to call for reinforcements.

The mob was moved from High Street and contained in Market Place. More than 30 officers were deployed, including dog handlers and the police helicopter.

They arrested 18 youths - 15 males and three females. A 17-year-old youth has been charged with assault and resisting arrest and will appear at Didcot Youth Court on September 29.

A 39-year-old woman was cautioned for assault and a 15-year-old boy was released on police bail pending further inquiries. Police issued fixed penalty tickets to 15 others for public order offences.

Sgt Frazer Weller said: "We will now be looking at finding the root causes of these problems and dealing with them."

A recent public meeting to form a Neighbourhood Action Group listed under-age drinking, rowdyism and vandalism as top priorities for the group to tackle.

Sgt Weller added: "This was a one-off dispute and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything we can to ensure nothing like this happens again."

Mayor Nigel Moor said: "We have a lovely town here and will not tolerate this sort of behaviour. We do not want anyone having to fear coming into the town."

Town teenagers were reluctant to talk about the incidents.

Daniel Burch, 15, of Reading Road, Wallingford, said: "It was quite frightening but most people were just stood around watching and keeping out of the way. Not everyone was involved in the fighting."

A woman who was assaulted said: "I was just hit in the face by this woman and I fell to the floor. I was kicked and I had to spend the night in the John Radcliffe Hospital."

The woman, who asked not to be named, added: "I am black and blue with bruises.

"I am very angry that the woman got a police caution - this was a vicious and unprovoked assault. I am seriously considering taking out a civil action against her."