ANTI-social behaviour has led to a dispersal order being imposed on Kidderminster's Marlpool estate and parts of Franche.

The order comes into force at 6pm on Monday, February 12 and runs until Friday, April 6.

It will cover Willowfield Drive, Middleton Road, Beeches Road, Marlpool Lane, Marlpool Place, Mouse Lane, Wilton Avenue, Franche Road and Chestnut Grove and includes King George V Park in Marlpool Drive and the Willowfield Road play area.

The Section 30 order means that where police or community support officers believe the presence or behaviour of more than two people has intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed members of the public, or could do so, they can be dispersed and ordered to leave the area.

Officers can also return home any young people under 16 between 9pm and 6am. If they refuse to comply, they can be arrested.

The dispersal order is only the third granted for Kidderminster, following use of the powers in the Spennells and Comberton Hill in 2004.

Local policing officer, PC Rosie Wood, said: "Anti-social behaviour has been a significant and persistent problem in these parts of Kidderminster, with groups of youths gathering in the evenings, using foul and abusive language, creating excessive noise, disrupting local businesses, littering and becoming involved in physical fights.

"The police warned last month that this behaviour was not acceptable and that, if it continued, we would use anti-social behaviour legislation to obtain a dispersal order."

She added: "Dispersal orders are a powerful piece of legislation and are not granted lightly.

"However, we have a duty to respond to calls from the community, who have been complaining about anti-social behaviour by youths for some time."