CURFEW orders are being put in place to tackle gangs of youths who intimidate residents.

Teenagers under the age of 16 who are found on the streets after 9pm in some areas of Middlesbrough will be escorted home by Cleveland Police.

Residents in Grangetown and Whale Hill have suffered from regular bouts of crime and disruptive behaviour.

Councillor Ann Higgins told yesterday how people were afraid to leave their homes because they were afraid of being faced with gangs of rowdy teenagers.

She said shop owners are being targeted by repeated acts of vandalism and disorder.

Dispersal orders are being issued by Cleveland Police to help curb rowdiness in the estates.

The strict laws will come into effect on Thursday, January 20, and will run for four weeks.

It will mean officers will be armed with the power to break up gangs of youths and move people out of the area if their think residents could be harassed.

Mrs Higgins, the Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillor for the Eston Ward and chairman of the residents' association, said: "We are obviously delighted with the dispersal orders and the pledge from the police to help curb disorder.

"Residents inform me on a regular basis how gangs of youths roam the streets drinking alcohol till all hours of the night.

"They shout at elderly people, randomly throw stones at windows and generally cause chaos outside people's front doors.

"Residents are afraid to go past their doorstep and something needs to be done.

"These orders will hopefully help communities get back to some sort of normality."

Sergeant Dave Sutherland, of Cleveland Police, said: "There have been numerous complaints about gangs of youths roaming the streets, drinking alcohol and throwing stones at windows.

"It is not right that people should be frightened to go out and the police will play their part in stamping out this behaviour."

Sgt Sutherland also appealed for parents to take responsibility for their children, saying: "Do they know what their children are up to at night? It could well come as a shock if we have to march their youngsters home."