A TORFAEN town will become a no-go area for teen gangs when it is hit with an ASBO order next month.

From September 1, police in Cwmbran will have new powers under the Anti-social Behaviour Act of 2003 to kick out youngsters who are causing trouble.

The dispersal orders will allow them to move on any individual or group found between 9pm and 6am. They would have to leave the town centre and not return for 24 hours.

Those who break that order could be liable to up to six months in detention or a fine of up to £5,000. And police hope it will stamp out a teenage gang running rampage in the centre.

Joseph Little, shift manager at McDonald's in Cwmbran, said: "We've had a lot of problems with the kids - they come in and throw sauces around everywhere, have taken the plants out of the plant pots and thrown them around, broken the soap dispenser off the wall in the bathroom, lots of stuff.

"There's always a lot of swearing in front of our other customers and they try and break everything and make a mess. "It's been going on for a few months now, at least. I hope this makes a difference."

The order runs from September 1 to the end of February next year. It follows the ban on drinking in the town centre imposed on Tuesday.

PC Darrell Dewar told the Argus: "If under-16s are causing problems but don't step beyond the boundary of an arrestable offence, we can take them home or to a place of safety which would probably be the police station.

"We don't have a problem with the kids congregating but it's when they cause anti-social problems and harassment to people using the town centre.

"But the order is not a curfew. The majority of teenagers are law-abiding and they can come and go as they please.

"It's the minority we're targeting. It's not going to be used to move skateboarders on unless there are a small number who cause alarm and distress to the public."

David Jeremiah, manager of Cwmbran Safety Partnership, said: "We recognise that the order could potentially displace problems from one area to another.

"These powers are not going to be used lightly to harass young people who are just going about their business. This order is about making our streets somewhere people feel safe and comfortable."