THREE boys have been arrested as part of a police crackdown on rowdy behaviour on a housing estate.

The teenagers' arrests came only four days after a night-time curfew and dispersal order was imposed on an estate in Hartlepool.

A month-long curfew on the Dyke House area is the second in the town, following an operation on the Throston estate last November, in which two people were arrested.

Police revealed yesterday that boys aged 14, 15 and 16 were arrested after ignoring repeated orders to disperse and move on.

The 14 and 15-year-olds were then charged under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, and the 16-year-old has been bailed until a decision has been made on how to deal with him.

Sergeant Lynn Beeston said: "The dispersal notice part of the order says that a group of two or more can be dispersed if it is felt their behaviour is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to members of the public.

"These youths were told to disperse and were seen on a number of occasions to re-group. They were being rowdy and were shouting, so they were arrested and the two charged will be appearing before the courts.

"We are determined to clamp down on the anti-social behaviour taking place in the Dyke House area for the benefit of the local community."