POLICE have unveiled new powers to tackle yobs on an estate - the day after the area announced it was entering the Dorset village of the year contest.

From today, officers will be able to use a Section 30 order at Littlemoor in Weymouth to disperse groups acting in an anti-social manner.

Youths fighting and vandalising property outside Somerfield and other hotspots has prompted the order.

Dorset Police and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council introduced a similar order last year which was successful in combating disorder but that has since run out.

The new zone where the police will have powers has been extended slightly to cover certain streets.

Community leaders argued Littlemoor's bad reputation was unfair when they revealed yesterday the area had been entered into Dorset Community Action's village of the year competition.

Inspector Alan Jenkins said he saw no reason why Littlemoor should not battle it out in the contest despite it being the first housing estate in the area to have a Section 30 order slapped on it.

He said: "As well as judging aesthetic qualities the contest also focuses on community spirit and there's definitely a strong spirit at Littlemoor."

Insp Jenkins stressed that police had been working with local teenagers to try and remove the need to have a Section 30 order.

He added: "The aim of the order is to prevent low-level disorder from escalating into something more serious, or even better, to prevent it from happening in the first place.

"Residents of Littlemoor are entitled to live a peaceful life without being subjected to anti-social behaviour."

The new powers are backed by Littlemoor's Partners and Communities Together (PACT) group.

In addition to the dispersal powers, police can also take home out of control youngsters on the streets at night.

Borough council spokesman for community safety Councillor Tim Munro said: "The feedback from local people, as well as the evidence gathered by the council, shows that anti-social behaviour is a key priority.

"The Section 30 order is a preventative measure to address this issue and improve quality of life in the neighbourhood."