Police will from today ban teenagers from roaming the centre of a Cumbrian market town after dark. They will also have the power to order any group of two or more young people, whatever their age and whatever the time, to leave the area and not return.

The action in Wigton will be in force for the two weeks schools are shut for the Easter break. The night-time curfew will apply to all children under 16 and has been introduced following rowdy behaviour and vandalism during the half-term holiday in February.