MICHAEL Wills will join representatives from the police, Swin-don council and assorted parish coun-cillors on Friday to find a way of combating anti-social behaviour in Stratton St Margaret.

The North Swindon MP will join the town's anti-social behaviour tsar, Cheri Wright, to examine what extra facilities could be provided to youths in the district in an effort to stop them loitering on the streets at night.

Stratton has been blighted by of anti-social behaviour to the extent that police this week issued the first Dis-persal Orders, which now gives them power to move on rowdy youths deemed to be causing alarm, distress or harassment.

Notices were pinned to lampposts outlining the new powers in a triangular area stretch-ing from the Rat Trap Roundabout at the top of Highworth Road down to Greenbridge Roundabout, across to the A419 and up.

Each order runs for six months. But if youths return within 24-hours and are seen to be causing trouble they can be arrested and taken before the courts.

Punishment includes a fine, up to three-months imprisonment or both.

Ms Wright said: "We will get round the table and pool our resources to help the young people in this area.

"This is all about a long-term improvement in behaviour."

The meeting, which is being held at Swindon central police station, is not open to the public.