Selsdon High Street has become subject to a dispersal order to prevent groups of youths verbally abusing evening shoppers.

The order allows police officers to disperse groups of people who are behaving in an anti-social manner.

Sara Bashford, councillor for Selsdon and Ballards, said the order will be in place from March 3 until September 3.

"In most cases, the youths were not doing anything illegal but they were asking people to buy them cigarettes and alcohol and when they refused, they were being verbally abusive.

"In the last few months it has escalated and restaurant employees are being verbally abused, and in one instance someone was physically assaulted," she said.

She said the dispersal order would be active throughout the summer school holidays. "With the evenings getting lighter, residents and traders were concerned that the situation was going to get worse," she said.

Ms Bashford said she has worked with young people and appreciates their views.

"The negative is that young people will need to find somewhere to go. We don't have a lot for them in Selsdon and it is something that I am working on," she said.

She hopes the order means more people can use the shops and restaurants in Selsdon in the evenings.