A KENT village "blighted" by violence and anti-social behaviour has been thrown a lifeline.

From this weekend, unprecedented powers are being handed to police in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, to crack down on gangs of youths intimidating and harassing villagers.

Failure to comply with the dispersal order - the first to be issued in West Kent - could result in imprisonment.

The introduction of the dispersal order comes only days after a confrontation between police and a gang of youths.

On Sunday night youths pelted officers with missiles as they dealt with a suspected stolen and abandoned car in Penns Yard. The youths blocked efforts to remove the car and threw objects at police.

It is the latest incident in a growing trend in anti-social behaviour in the village. Despite a drop in crime in the village, police say there is continued unrest about nuisance gangs.

West Kent Police area commander Supt Jeremy Price, and Rodney Stone, chief executive of Tunbridge Wells council, have now approved a dispersal order for the area.

Mr Stone said: "This sends out a very clear message to this group of people that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated."

Derek Johnson, chairman of the Pembury Society, said: "The village is normally a lovely place to live, but it has become blighted of late."

The order, introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, gives police powers to disperse groups if they believe their presence or behaviour could intimidate, harass, alarm or distress the public.

It is effective 24 hours a day from September 24 until the end of October.

Officers can instruct a group to disperse immediately or within a specified time period, to leave a particular area if they do not live there and prevent them from returning for up to 24 hours.

Youngsters under the age of 16 found in the dispersal area after 9pm could also be taken home by police.

Anyone who refuses to comply with the order could be fined or jailed for up to three months.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER