TWO brothers have been put on interim anti-social behaviour orders for two years after bad behaviour in the Dorchester area.

The boys, aged 10 and 14, have been ordered not to use threatening, offensive or intimidating behaviour or language or to encourage others to do so.

District Judge Roger House, sitting at Weymouth Magistrates Court, also ordered the boys not to consume alcohol or become intoxicated in public, drive vehicles in public or obstruct other vehicles.

The elder brother was put on a curfew between 10pm and 6am until he turns 15, when it will change to between 11pm and 6am.

The younger boy was put on a curfew from 9pm to 6am.

The case against the boys, who cannot be identified because of their ages, was brought by West Dorset District Council after numerous reports of anti-social behaviour in Dorchester.

Hamish Dunlop, acting for the council, said the elder brother had sworn at neighbours, set off fireworks late at night, ridden a motorcycle without a licence and assaulted his father.

Mr Dunlop said the boy had also climbed scaffolding in High East Street in Dorchester, distressing women inside the building.

Mr Dunlop said the younger boy had thrown stones and conkers at people, ridden a scrambler motorcycle on pavements and disturbed a St John Ambulance meeting.

Mr House told the elder boy that if he meets the conditions of the order he will have nothing to worry about and told the younger boy the order could help him change too.

Mr House added: "Very, very few people are rotten to the core."

After the hearing, Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police said: "This is a very good result for the community and the people of the road in particular.

"They have had to put up with some very unreasonable and unacceptable behaviour for a number of years now which has affected their quality of life.

"Some of the personal stories make very disturbing reading and it is clear that the behaviour of the family has had a major impact on those living in the road."

Mr House refused to lift a court order banning the identification of the boys.

The brothers will reappear before the court on January 25, 2008, for the interim order to be reviewed.