A BID to stamp out antisocial behaviour over the fireworks and Halloween periods has been hailed as a success, partly due to bad weather.

Operation Grim Reaper, Thames Valley police's attempts to crack down on unruly acts over the late October and early November time frame achieved its goals in the Wycombe rural area, including Marlow, according to Inspector Ray Wilks.

A full list of official crime figures for the last two to three weeks has not yet been published but Insp. Wilks was pleased with the low level of reported problems.

Usually acts such as trick or treaters troubling elderly residents or fireworks being let off by under age children are the most common offences reported.

There was a high police presence on the streets over Halloween to deter any would be troublemakers.

Inspector Ray Wilks said: "The operation was very successful, antisocial behaviour was very much down. The awful weather probably helped us. There were some cases including some children lighting fireworks Flackwell Heath but we had a lot of officers on the ground who were able to deal with it. There were some reports in Marlow (of antisocial behaviour) but very few."