POLICE in Wythall are applying for new powers to stamp out the village's 'biggest problem' - nuisance youth behaviour.

Officers have had to deal with 270 incidents of antisocial behaviour in the village since January.

The new power would give officers the authority to disperse gangs of youths and escort loitering youngsters home.

Village beat manager Pc Mark Townsend told a recent Wythall Parish Council meeting the Section 30 Order of the Antisocial Behaviour Act would also allow police to keep an eye on individual cases and stop antisocial behaviour before it reached court.

"The initiative will hopefully solve Wythall's biggest problem, for those causing trouble as well as those affected by it,2 he said.

He added: "With this in place, we're hopeful of combatting drug dealing, intimidation, spitting, verbal abuse and smashing windows."

The order would apply to trouble hotspots in the area, including Shawfield, Drakes Cross, The Innage, Yarn Close, Flax Lane and surrounding areas.

Bromsgrove Council antisocial behaviour co-ordinator Graham Hancock said organisations such as the police, probation, welfare and education services were working together to fight the problem.

Pc Townsend said recent youth diversionary schemes were proving a success in Wythall and Alvechurch.

He said: "We've progressed from 30 or 40 kids engaging in antisocial behaviour to 40 kids kicking a ball about."

But he added police still needed the help of residents to stamp out the trouble.

He said: "People seem frightened to report antisocial behaviour but we are appealing for residents to come forward if they witness anything."