ACTION is to be taken to limit the activities of a young man who is said to lead a nuisance group of youths who congregate in a town centre.

Durham Police are applying to impose an anti-social behaviour order on 21-year-old Brian Shoulder.

He is said to be the leader of a gang which congregates in Front Street and the Burns area of Chester-le-Street, posing a general nuisance to shoppers, visitors, residents and traders.

The Durham force is seeking to restrict his activities around the town centre with the imposition of the order.

Mr Shoulder, of Trafalgar Road, in Sulgrave, Washington, appeared before North Durham magistrates, sitting in Durham, yesterday, when he applied for the hearing to be adjourned to allow him to be legally represented.

Asked for his views, police solicitor Steve Mooney said: "Bearing in mind this application is brought in the public interest, we reluctantly agree to an adjournment, but for no more than ten days, so we'll know whether or not it will be contested."

The magistrates agreed to adjourn the hearing until March 22, at 11am.