Police are acting to end the menace of teenage thugs who bring fear to a town's square.

Operation Scuttle will be launched in Southwick on Friday as part of an initiative to drive gangs away from the square.

Police are set to serve antisocial behaviour orders on persistent trouble-makers.

The orders mean youths can be banned from the square and will be prosecuted if they breach the orders by going there again.

Police are determined to crack down on troublemakers who have turned Southwick Square into a no-go area for some people.

Shopkeepers have complained about constant vandalism and abuse from gangs of 40 or more youths who hang around in the evenings and at weekends.

Elderly and disabled people living near the square say they are afraid to go there at night because they are subjected to harrassment and abuse.

Police were called last Friday after a gang of 40 teenagers gathered near the Co-op kicking bins and throwing plastic bottles.

And at 9pm on Monday, police seized two air pistols and a youth was arrested after reports of shots being fired in the square.

Inspector Chris Drew, of Shoreham police, said: "This has gone on for long enough. We are determined to bring this type of behaviour to an end.

"We will launch Operation Scuttle in Southwick on Friday and we are prepared to issue antisocial behaviour orders to the worst offenders.

"We will also be using CCTV cameras to provide evidence of antisocial behaviour and will continue to show footage from the cameras to parents whose children are involved."