Locals maintained drunken louts have been gathering at weekends in the village's Morton Park and smashing their empty bottles in an enclosed children's play zone.

Concerned parents insisted it is only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured on razor-sharp shards left behind by alcohol-fuelled neds.

A mother-of-three, who asked not to be named, said: "I usually take my children to the park on Sundays but it's too dangerous to let them run about because of broken glass hidden in the grass.
"I actually phoned the police once because a gang of teenagers were drinking and shouting in the play area.I waited for a while but the police either didn't come or arrived when I and the gang had gone."

She added: "It won't be long before a child is cut to the bone on a broken bottle."

A shocked father was forced to remove broken bottles from the Cage at Habbieauld Road – built in a bid to keep youngsters out of trouble – before his eight-year-old son could play football.

He told the Extra: "Luckily I entered the Cage first otherwise he would have run right over the glass.I spent a bit of time clearing it away but it's time these morons wised up."

The latest spate of antisocial behaviour is just one in a series of similar incidents to hit Kilmaurs in recent weeks.

Last month, staff at the primary school arrived on several occasions to find the playground and surrounding streets strewn with broken bottles.

It is believed to have been the result of running battles between gangs from the village and nearby Crosshouse and Springside.

Annick councillor, John McGhee, said: "I have raised my concerns regarding this issue and have pursued them with the police, who have been active in the area, confiscating a large amount of drink in the past few weeks.
"There is to be an additional community policeman and hopefully the proactive approach by will ensure a noticeable improvement."

Local police officer, Sergeant Sean Mangan, said: "As a result of increased police activity over the past few weeks we have made significant inroads into the problem, and we will continue to target these areas."