Booze-fuelled hooligans who urinate and vomit in gardens are the target of a tough police blitz.

Gangs congregate in the Preston Park and Fiveways area of Brighton and keep residents awake at night with their noise.

Residents, schools and businesses have complained and from this week police are fighting back with a Dispersal Order.

Under Section 30 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003, the order will run for six months.

It will give police powers to disperse groups where their presence or behaviour has resulted or is likely to result in the public being harassed, intimidated, alarmed or distressed.

Police can ban troublemakers from the area for up to 24 hours and take children home after 9pm if they are not under the control of a responsible adult.

Police stressed it was a discretionary power which was not a curfew and would only be used as a last resort.

A spokeswoman said consultation had taken place with Brighton and Hove City Council.

The crackdown has been authorised by Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine, city police commander, and Judith Macho, the council assistant director of public safety.

Chief Inspector Kerry Cox, East Brighton police chief, said: "We increased police patrols in the area throughout the summer and acted against youths who were persistently unruly but the numbers gathering in groups has continued to increase.

"We have recently asked local residents and traders to complete questionnaires about their experiences and it is their comments that have, in part, led us to seek the Dispersal Order."

One resident told police: "Aside from the broken bottles and litter they leave, it is impossible to get to sleep, the noise is so loud. One wouldn't dare approach them because their behaviour is so threatening."

Ms Cox said: "I want to assure local people we mean business when we say we are determined to reduce this sort of behaviour which so affects the quality of our life of our own communities.

"The order will have no adverse impact on anyone who is in the area for legitimate reasons but the actions of some individuals require us to have this power to address the worst cases.

"I urge parents to ensure they know where their children are and what they are doing. If they do not, they should find out before a police officer tells them their child has been caught contravening the order. For those who persistently contravene it, anti-social behaviour contracts and orders will be sought."

Councillor Ken Bodfish, city council leader, said: "We want to prevent people feeling unsafe and intimidated in their own neighbourhoods.

"This will prevent anti-social behaviour escalating and offer extra protection, particularly to those who may become lured into committing offences."

Areas covered by the order include: London Road, Peacock Lane, Surrenden Road, Ditchling Road, Preston Road, Stanford Road, Varndean Gardens, Preston Drove, Hollingbury Copse, Surrenden Park, Friar Road, Friar Close, Friar Walk, Friar Crescent, Varndean School grounds, Varndean Sixth Form College, Dorothy Stringer School, St Bernadette's School, Balfour School, Draxmont Way, Varndean Holt, Mulberry Close, Surrenden Holt, Whittingehame Gardens, Poplar Close, Loder Road, Bates Road, Gordon Road, Herbert Road, Loder Place, Balfour Road, Beacon Close, Osborne Road, Lowther Road, Dover Road, Ashford Road, Sandgate Road, Hythe Road, Preston Park Avenue, Beaconsfield Villas, Havelock Road, Waldegrave Road, Chester Terrace, Cleveland Road, Southdown Road, Edburton Avenue, Lucerne Road, Preston Park, Blakers Park, Peacock Lane, Braybon Avenue, Woodland Way, Surrenden Crescent, Withdean Crescent, Varndean Close, Oak Close, Fircroft Close, Varndean Drive, Laine Close, Walnut Close, Holly Close, Fairlie Gardens, Cliveden Close, Kingsmere, Cornwall Gardens, Harrington Road, Bavant Road, Knoyle Road, Harrington Villas, Surrenden Close, Beechwood Close, Beechwood Avenue, Larkfield Way, Westfield Close, Northfield Way and Eastfield Crescen