SECURITY guards' presence at Helensburgh's main railway station has been reduced, but remains, following a recent review of anti-social behaviour by young people in the area.

Security personnel were put in place at Helensburgh Central on August 12 to help tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour after drivers threatened to boycott trains to and from Helensburgh due to safety fears.

Emergency meetings called by Helensburgh MSP Jackie Baillie, which were attended by representatives from Scotrail, the train drivers unions, social work, Argyll and Bute Council and West Dunbartonshire Council, saw a number of measures put in place to tackle the issue.

Among these measures was turning off the wifi in the station, increasing police presence and working to increase communications between the agencies involved.

These measures along with the security guards at Helensburgh Central have seen a "massive" fall in reports of anti-social behaviour.

Ms Baillie told the Advertiser: "There has been a significant decrease in the number of incidents recently compared to previous months which shows that the multi-agency approach has had a positive impact.

"On that basis I understand that ScotRail has reduced but not removed the security guard cover.

"I understand that the situation will be constantly reviewed as the tougher new measures introduced by police and social work bed in and of course the attention of the British Transport Police and Police Scotland continues."

A review, by ScotRail, of the security guards' presence took place on Wednesday, September 6 after the number of incidents decreased.

A ScotRail spokesman said no change had been made to the arrangements and that security guards remained in place at the station.

The guards were introduced in response to a number of anti-social behaviour incidents during the summer, including one in which a member of ScotRail station staff had a lit cigarette flicked at him.

Other incidents have been reported both on trains and in the station since early July.

Last week the Advertiser reported that some of the teenagers alleged to have been involved in the disturbances had been issued with passes giving them free train travel in a bid to reduce the chances of incident involving ticket inspection getting out of hand.