TEENAGE tearaways are to be put under curfew at a seaside resort.

Police and residents have reached the end of the line with yobs menacing parts of Redcar. Dispersal orders will now be used to clear trouble-hit areas.

The orders empower police officers and police community support officers to order groups of two or more people to leave specified areas and to not return within 24 hours, on pain of arrest, if the officers believe they have or will intimidate, harass, alarm or distress members of the public.

The orders are being issued for the Roseberry Square and the Closes area of the town, and Blayberry and Burnmoor Closes and West Dyke Road areas. Anyone failing to comply will be arrested.

"Dispersal orders are not obtained lightly. The community police team has worked tirelessly with residents' groups and elected members to improve the quality of life for those suffering the misery caused by gangs of unruly youths," said Inspector Dave Mead.

He said the orders come into effect at 6pm today and run for six months, to December 3. The areas they cover are menaced by anti-social behaviour and crime, he said.

"The orders are an important weapon in our armoury to combat anti-social behaviour and crime, but will not solve the long-term problems alone.

"To this end, further policing initiatives, including anti-social behaviour orders and the execution of search warrants, will be used in conjunction with the dispersal order," said Insp Mead.

The dispersal orders allow police officers to escort home anyone under the age of 16 who is found in the areas covered by the orders and judged not to be under the effective control of a responsible adult.

Inspector Mead said police would continue to work with the youth service and outreach workers to head off young people from unacceptable behaviour.

But he also made an appeal for assistance to residents: "I would ask members of the public to come forward and name those people who are intimidating and degrading their communities to help us to help you."