THE nuisance of youngsters hanging around Winyates Centre has eased in the last month after an anti-social behaviour order was taken out on one man.

Pc Stan Baker, of Winyates police, said since the order was taken out in September on Shaun Timbrell, 21, there had been a "marked difference" in the number of young people hanging around the centre.

Timbrell, of Kinnersley Close, was said to be a ring-leader.

Various conditions have now been placed on his behaviour, including not spitting or playing football and he is banned from the centre.

Pc Baker said: "A lot of trouble around the centre is of a sub-criminal nature but is still a nuisance to residents.

"But the good thing about the anti-social behaviour orders and this new legislation is that we have powers to deal with it.

"And this is what residents want."

Pc Baker said police were also investigating the possibility of taking out another two anti-social behaviour orders on youths in the area in the near future.

He also reported at the Winyates Neighbourhood Group Meeting last week that police had made a 45 per cent crime detection rate in Church Hill, Winyates and Matchborough in the last month.

Pc Baker said these figures were "exceptional" since the national average was about 25 per cent.