Education should precede enforcement to curb anti-social behaviour, but if that fails, the authorities should clamp down, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said this morning.

He delivered the warning when inaugurating a project in Cospicua where a dilapidated piece of land was transformed into a play area, bocci club and open space for residents.

"Now that the works are ready, it is important that people take care of the place and make it their own. We will try to educate those who indulge in vandalism but if this fails we will enforce the law," he said to applause from a small crowd of residents gathered for the occasion.

Mr Mizzi said the project, next to the Cospicua Rangers football club, had been promised for 10 years but works only started six months ago when he took over the ministry.

The works were carried out by government employees, who Mr Mizzi praised for their dedication.