Eastleigh police are targeting antisocial youngsters over the next two weeks.

Hooligans have been warned they will face on-the-spot fines if they misbehave during the October half-term school holiday, Hallowe'en or Bonfire Night.

Teams of officers will be patrolling known hotspots to ensure neighbourhood nuisance is kept to a minimum.

The CCTV community patrol vehicle will also be in neighbourhoods, gathering evidence of inappropriate behaviour.

Residents who are victims of antisocial behaviour, or those who witness it, are being urged to notify the police immediately.

On Hallowe'en, shift patterns have been altered, so more officers will be available for late duties to target the core times when trick-or-treaters go door-knocking.

Police say egg or flour throwing will not be tolerated and offenders can expect to be dealt with robustly. A plea is also going out for shops not to sell these items to youngsters in the lead-up to the celebrations.

On the weekend of Bonfire Night, officers will be paying particular attention to those who misuse fireworks - especially people breaching the new curfew, which now carries a fixed penalty fine of £80 under recently introduced legislation.

Under-age drinking will also be targeted and police say officers will seize alcohol from offenders and take steps to prosecute the seller or supplier.

Eastleigh-based acting Chief Insp Karen Scipio said: "We do not wish to sound as though we are being killjoys, but it is important that everyone knows what will be acceptable and what will not be tolerated.

"Those who want to celebrate Hallowe'en or Bonfire Night can do so, but we ask that they do so within the boundaries of the law.

"We would also ask parents to acknowledge their responsibility by ensuring that their children behave properly when they leave the house, as on-the-spot fines will be imposed on those who break the law. Unfortunately, there will always be a minority whose actions will cause concern to residents."