UP to ten teenage troublemakers could soon face law enforced restrictions on their movements around a Teesside town.

Police officers will be gathering evidence against ringleaders this weekend before applying to magistrates for anti-social behaviour orders.

For Cleveland Police the applications are a last resort and their ultimate sanction following the failure of approaches to the youngsters and their families for a change in behaviour.

The evidence will be collected in a police crackdown on hooliganism in parts of Middlesbrough this weekend.

The force's crack district support unit, drafted in to help hold the line during the Bradford race riots earlier this year, will target trouble hot spots on the town's estates together with community police and response teams and officers on horseback.

Anti-social behaviour orders are the fourth option after persuasive approaches and interviews and even acceptable behaviour contracts fail. Arrest follows as a third step, followed by an application to the courts for an anti-social behaviour order.

Inspector Gary Gamesby, who is coordinating the weekend crackdown, told The Northern Echo: "We will be gathering evidence together to support individual anti-social behaviour orders.

"We have four community police areas and there are at least one or two in each of those areas who are being considered for orders. The total could figure up to about ten."

Anti-social behaviour has been steadily increasing across the town, he said, with October being a particularly troublesome month for housing estate residents.

There were 884 anti-social behaviour incidents recorded in October, last year. Insp Gamesby said: "I would like to reassure the people of Middlesbrough that this is an ongoing operation running for a number of weekends, including the busy bonfire weekend.

"I would also like to alert all sellers of fireworks that the local authority in conjunction with the police will be strictly monitoring the sale of fireworks, and any breaches will be enforced.''

He called on parents to take a responsible attitude to their children. He said: "A vast number of parents abrogate their responsibilities once the door shuts and the youngsters leave the house. They have a responsibility."