A DISPERSAL order will be put in place in Old Leigh across the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Essex Police has taken the measure to introduce the dispersal order from Friday evening at 6pm, until Sunday at the same time.

This comes just days after the force introduced the same measure in the town from Saturday evening until Sunday evening.

Huge crowds gathered on the sea wall, who refused to leave the area.

The order is in place to the south of, and including, Rectory Grove between the junctions of Elm Road and Harley Street. It also includes High Street, Leigh Hill and New Road. 

The move gives officers powers to move anyone believed to be behaving anti-socially from the area.

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Inspector Paul Hogben, of the Southend Community Policing Team, said:

“We know concerns have been raised by businesses and the public and we want to make it clear that we will not tolerate antisocial behaviour and disorder anywhere in the district and will use the powers available to us to tackle it.

“We know that such behaviour impacts on businesses and families in the area and we want them to know we are here to protect them.

“We will have additional patrols in place in Old Leigh over the weekend to keep people safe.

“I would say to anyone who is thinking of going to Old Leigh to enjoy the bank holiday safely and legally, please continue to do so.

"Equally, we hope they will make use of some of the brilliant businesses in the area.

“But to anyone who had planned to go to the area to be antisocial and create disorder, please do not.

"This order gives us the power to remove you from the area and failure to follow any direction from us is a criminal offence.”