A DISPERSAL order has been put in place on a residential estate following a spike in anti-social behaviour.

Police have the power to order anyone to leave the Porter Way area of Clacton if they have reasonable ground to believe they are harassing residents or likely to be involved in crime or disorder.

Anyone who refuses to leave can be arrested and if convicted could find themselves with a £2,500 fine and three-month prison sentence.

Inspector Julie Finch authorised the order.

She said: "In the last week we have received eight calls from residents who have had stones thrown at their homes or suffered other idiotic behaviour such as grass being pushed through their letterboxes.

"Nearly all of these incidents have happened in the evenings and those responsible have been described as teenagers.

"No damage has been caused so far but no-one should have to put up with this type of repetitive petty anti-social behaviour and my officers will be out in force this weekend to use this dispersal order against anyone stepping out of line and causing intimidation or harassment.

"We will be returning any one we find under the age of 16 to their homes and I would ask all parents to make sure they know what their children are getting up to in the evening – otherwise they could find us knocking on their doors.”

The order came into force at 8am on Saturday and is scheduled to last for 48 hours.