VANDALS and arsonists are being targeted after blighting the lives of a Teesside community.

Police and council chiefs plan to stamp out the problems after being granted a two-month dispersal order covering The Closes estate, in Redcar.

The order, which will come into force tonight, gives police and community protection officers the authority to disperse groups of two or more people.

Any who return to the area within 24 hours would face arrest and prosecution.

The initiative, spearheaded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Cleveland Police, follows concerns raised by local residents about increasing cases of arson and criminal damage on the estate.

Councillor Steve Goldswain, the council's cabinet member for community protection, said: "Residents have told us that they are fed up with the criminal actions of a minority of people and we are determined to take whatever action is necessary to deal with this.

"Securing this order sends out the clear message to anyone causing disturbance and distress in the community that their actions will not be tolerated."

The order covers the area bordered by Mersey Road from its junction with Roseberry Road, along to Low Farm Drive; along Low Farm Drive to the junction with Rushpool Close; from this junction across to West Dyke Road; along West Dyke Road to the junction with Troutbeck Road; along Troutbeck Road to the junction with Mersey Road, back to the junction of Mersey Road and Roseberry Road; and all the areas and roads within this boundary.

Inspector Helen Barker, of Cleveland Police, said: "The introduction of the dispersal order is one of a number of options being used by police and our partners to tackle the issue of fire-setting and antisocial behaviour in the Closes area of Redcar.

"Over the coming months, the dedicated neighbourhood police team will continue to work tirelessly to address the problems on the estate and ensure that the instigators of the problems are dealt with in a robust manner.

"The police would encourage any residents with information on the perpetrators of any anti-social behaviour to contact their local neighbourhood police team, in Redcar."

The dispersal order runs from 6pm to 11.59pm, until Sunday, September 11.