The first teenagers to see a DVD film produced by teachers, police and fire chiefs in South Gloucestershire say they got the anti-vandalism message loud and clear.

The DVD – called Damage Done – aims to reduce the massive cost of vandalism and criminal damage in the region. Targeted at 11 to 17-year- olds, the film hammers home the message that youngsters could end up with a criminal record if the are caught willfully damaging property.

Philippa Isbell, from Safer South Gloucestershire, said: "We know the effects that seemingly 'minor' damage can have on our communities and people's sense of safety and well-being. The young people we talk to are often surprised to find they can be arrested for criminal damage and they do not understand the effect it could have on their future opportunities, such as employment."

Each incident of criminal damage costs residents and businesses in South Gloucestershire £866 to sort out. Last year there were 4,050 incidents of criminal damage costing £3,507,300 to repair.

Teenagers from The Ridings High School, Winterbourne, were among the first to see the film.

Jonny Bradley, 14, said: "I thought it was very effective and it clearly showed the consequences it can have on other people."

Georgie Barlow, 13, said: "It was very thought-provoking, because of the way it was filmed it was also very believable."

Anna Kline, 13, said: "It gave lots of information which is very important in showing children the impact their behaviour can have on the community."

Sarah Jones, Teaching and Learning adviser with South Gloucestershire Council, said: "We developed this teaching package to highlight the unseen damaging effects that vandalism and anti-social behaviour can have on people's lives, and to get young people to really think about the consequences of their attitudes and actions."

The DVD will be made available to all of the district's secondary schools, and other agencies, to help tackle criminal damage and the thousands of pounds it costs local taxpayers.