A nightclub boss says he hopes hosting discos for teenagers can help tackle a town’s anti-social behaviour problem.

Nathan Ahmad, whose family has run Vivid in Herne Bay for 15 years, has teamed up with Youts in the Bay to host a series of events aimed at 11 to 15-year-olds.

Set up by a group of parents, it will host its first event on Halloween between 6pm and 10pm – with hopes of seeing this go some way to keep understimulated youngsters from creating trouble elsewhere in the town.

“Our mission is to keep kids off the streets while offering a welcoming space for socialising, making new friends, and creating lasting memories,” said Nathan.

“As a family-run, community-focused venue, our priority is to enrich the local community.

“Profit is secondary; if we can create a positive experience for our youth and provide a safe space for them to connect, we will always strive to make it happen.”

Sarah Harvey, one of the founders of Youts in the Bay, added: “We are hoping to run the events to give the kids something to do and look forward to each month.

“There have been a lot of issues in our area with anti-social behaviour, and we believe that there is not much for them around here, so we thought it would be a good thing for them.”

While Vivid had once hosted under-18s events, it will be the first since the pandemic.

It has pledged to retain its usual safety measures, such as licensed door-staff and DBS-checked employees, as well as the complete removal and concealment of alcohol.

It is an all-ticket event costing £10, and a guest list will be maintained with each child’s name recorded.

Sarah says she chose Vivid after hosting her daughter’s birthday party there, and felt the venue would be a good partner to help tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour.

It has become a major issue in Herne Bay, with a public meeting held in June to discuss how to tackle “wannabe gangsters” terrorising the town.

Residents told how youths wearing black tracksuits with their faces covered race around on e-scooters or bikes - and were seen in groups around hotspots such as the Memorial Park, seafront and town centre.

The packed meeting at the King’s Hall heard that ducks were being killed with catapults, foreign students were being attacked, and some people were now “scared to come out”.

Tickets can be obtained from Sarah by texting 07599 410469, or can be purchased from LTM Boutique in Herne Bay.