A court has banned 12-year-old twins from leaving home together and sharing the same classroom as part of an anti-social behaviour order.

Charlie and Aaron Brown, described as "tearaways in every sense of the word", can be in a public place together only when accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

Havant magistrates court, Hants, was told that the pair had "terrorised" shoppers and traders by shouting, swearing, throwing stones, breaking windows and daubing graffiti.

They regularly skipped lessons at their special needs school where staff must now make arrangements to keep them apart.

Penny Schofield, prosecuting, said that the boys, dressed in matching tracksuits, regularly made a nuisance of themselves in the centre of Portsmouth.

Some traders were so frightened of them that they were reluctant to call the police. The boys, who live with their mother, a supermarket worker, have already been excluded from mainstream education.

Charlie had not attended at school for a month and often enticed his brother out of classes so they could cause trouble together, the court was told.

Patrick Lynch, defending, said: "There is no denying that they can only be classed as tearaways in every sense of the word."

The brothers registered no reaction when Judge Philip Gillibrand handed them the two-year Asbo and warned them: "You must be aware that you cannot go on like this. It has to stop."

One shopkeeper, who refused to be named, said: "They were a complete and utter nightmare around here. Every time I saw them appear my heart would sink and I knew that there would be trouble."

Another said: "I think everyone will be very pleased that this action has been taken. Plenty of people will breathe a huge sigh of relief if this works."

The pair, from North End, Ports-mouth, were prosecuted by Portsmouth city council.

Pc Katie Holland, the case officer, said the brothers admitted that they went on their wrecking sprees "to wind people up".