POLICE have a new tool in the fight against anti-social behaviour in Great Ayton.

A dispersal order has been granted for the centre the village, allowing officers to break up groups of two or more people believed to be causing trouble.

The order comes into effect next Friday and allows police to ban people from the area it covers for up to 24 hours.

Officers can also force people under 16, who are causing a nuisance, to return to their homes between the hours of 9pm and 6am.

The order, which has been sanctioned by Hambleton District Council, was made after a catalogue of incidents in the village was drawn up by police and residents.

In the ten months to January this year, 242 incidents were logged. They included youths intimidating elderly residents, youths drinking and fighting and criminal damage to buildings.

Inspector Nick Walther, of Hambleton safet neighbourhoods team, said: "These incidents are just a snapshot of what has been going on in Great Ayton for some time, mostly caused by groups of youths congregating in the village.

"With this dispersal order, we will be able to take immediate action to break them up, either sending them home, or encouraging them to get involved in activities which will not involve hanging around the village centre.

"We need to protect the people of Great Ayton, as well as visitors to the village.

"Many elderly residents have felt intimidated by large groups of youths and become afraid to go out at night. This order will help us to improve that situation."

Posters and leaflets advertising the order have been distributed around the village.

The order covers open spaces, communal areas, shopping areas, footpaths and cycle paths and the highway within the area bordered by Newton Road, Romany Road, Addison Road, Linden Road, Linden Avenue, Guisborough Road, Bridge Street, Hollygarth Close and within the High Street and High Green areas.