POLICE in the Vale of Evesham are warning that they will crack down hard on youngsters who intimidate people with "trick or treat" as Halloween approaches.

This comes after two incidents in which eggs have been thrown at houses in the town.

Community support officer Rod Gurney, says that police will throw the book at anyone caught getting up to this kind of thing.

"No-one minds a bit of fun but this practice that started in America is getting more serious and it needs to be stamped on. In some cases it can effectively amount to demanding money with menaces," said Rod.

Rod said that in Evesham there had been a growing problem with egg throwing. The eggs had either been brought, stolen or in some cases were old stock raided from the waste bins of shops and stores.

He said that throwing objects at people could end up with the offender in court charged with assault, using intimidation could result in a charge of intentional harassment and throwing things at property may mean a charge of criminal damage.

This week supermarket giants Asda announced it had introduced a ban on under 16s buying eggs from its stores.

Police are targeting schools with the get tough message and have prepared posters for people to put in their windows which reads: "The occupants of this house kindly ask you not to call on Halloween. Please respect our wishes."