YOUNG people in Bolton town centre have reacted angrily to the news that the police are to use new powers to prevent them from gathering in large groups.

In future, skateboarders and groups of teenagers who congregate in Victoria Square will be ordered to disperse or face arrest.

It is the first time police have used the new power under the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 to break up groups of two or more who gather in a designated area.

In order to authorise the dispersal notice, police chiefs had to prove the groups were intimidating and distressing members of the public.

But young people claim they are not doing anything wrong and are being treated unfairly.

Sports shop worker Chris Priest, aged 19, from Ainsworth Lane, Bolton, said: "It's the first law I've heard of that prevents people from being sociable.

"I work in the town centre and come here just to meet friends and socialise. We don't cause any trouble.

"We shouldn't be labelled a nuisance just because there are quite a few of us. The town centre is just a convenient place to meet as we can all get here, and there are shops and things for us to do."

Richard Aitken-Smith, aged 21, of Hawthorne Road, Deane, said: "We're doing nothing wrong. We just come here because there's nowhere else so convenient that we can all get to. It's bad enough that we can't skateboard anymore, now we can't even socialise. If there were a large group of old people would they get dispersed as well?"

Damien Watson, aged 16, from Burnham Walk, Farnworth, said: "If anything we get other people causing trouble with us because most of us choose to dress differently.

"That's why we stick together, not to cause trouble. We just want to meet up and chat and look round the shops. What are we doing wrong?"

It is not the first time that young people have clashed with the authorities.

Earlier this month, skateboarders were banned from the town centre under a new by-law following near miss collisions with members of the public.

Anyone caught skating in the town centre could receive a fine of up to £500 from magistrates. The young people had asked for the council to consider a curfew on skateboarding during busy periods instead but the local authority said it would only curtail the problem.

Skateboarders have been campaigning for a free town centre skating facility but council chief say it will cost too much money and there is already a privately run facility in Gilnow Lane, Deane.