Police are clamping down on a group of yobs that are terrorising a town centre by throwing eggs and intimidating shoppers.

Officers put in place a 48-hour dispersal order in the centre of Leigh at 4.30pm on Tuesday after a group of youths had been causing a nuisance for two days running.

The yobs had been gathering in groups, shouting at members of the public and the police.

The last straw came when eggs were thrown at a police car on Sunday.

Acting Insp Ian Hughes, from the Southend community policing team, said the order was a necessary move in order to curb a rise in antisocial incidents being reported in Leigh.

He said: “Following an increase in reported incidents of antisocial behaviour to officers from both residents and businesses, a dispersal order was authorised for a 48-hour period.

“The purpose of the order is to exclude individuals acting in an antisocial manner and affecting the general community going about their lawful business.

“This group of youths were throwing eggs at vehicles and people and were generally intimidating.

“This activity had been reported over the previous two days, the community policing team wanted to ensure it didn’t extend to a third day.

“The area was patrolled, the additional visibility in conjunction with the order had a positive effect and the group have not been seen.

“The situation will be monitored and the details of those identified will be receiving home visits.”

The dispersal order has been focussed around the Broadway and Leigh Library Gardens areas. It came after reports of groups of people gathering in areas of the town, verbally abusing members of the public and police.

Mark Bromfield, town councillor for Highlands, said that police should be arresting the youths responsible instead of forcing them to stay away.

He said: “I would not say Leigh is a high crime area in relation to the rest of the borough.

“Maybe the police should resolve the issue at hand by catching the youngsters the moment these things happen.

“If it is anti-social behaviour then maybe they should catch them and take them to court. If these incidents count as a criminal offence, it should be treated in that way.”

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers.