Police have been given tougher powers to clamp down on youths causing havoc in a coastal area this weekend.

A dispersal order will be enforced in Whitstable and Chestfield following a rise in reports of anti-social behaviour involving groups of young people over the past two weeks.

Anyone caught causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress will be told to leave the area and not return for 24 hours.

And failing to leave, or returning during that time, can result in arrest.

The powers come into force at 6pm tonight and will last for two days.

In Whitstable, it will cover the area from the low water mark at Whitstable Beach at Tower Hill along the coast to West Beach.

It will stretch from West Beach to the junction of Joy Lane and Canterbury Road, to Belmont Road and Old Dover Road - including Whitstable railway station.

The dispersal order covers Bridge Approach to Castle Road, Castle Road to Park Avenue to Tower Hill and back to the low water mark at the seafront.

A second zone covers Chestfield railway station and the border of the railway to the Thanet Way and the Oyster Bed restaurant, Reeves Way up to the border of the B&Q, then from Primrose Way through to Chestfield Road and back to the railway station.

A spokesman for the force said: "Kent Police has received an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour involving groups of young people in the Whitstable and Chestfield area in the last two weeks.

"In response, officers have introduced a 48-hour dispersal order which comes into force at 6pm today.

"The order gives police additional powers to move on anyone causing a nuisance and, if necessary, to arrest those who return to the area once dispersed.

"Two dispersal areas are in force; one runs the length of High Street and Harbour Street and the surrounding roads, the second is around Chestfield railway station."