TRADERS in a Southampton shopping parade say dispersal orders set up to combat antisocial behaviour are failing.

Shop owners in Hinkler Road, Thornhill, claim their lives are being made a misery by gangs of youths hanging about outside, drinking, making excessive noise, throwing their rubbish on the floor - and even stopping customers from entering their shops.

At the end of July exclusion zones were set up in Irving Road in Millbrook, Bitterne Precinct and Hinkler Road where, under new powers adopted by Southampton police, any group of youngsters under the age of 16 causing a nuisance within the designated areas can be ordered to leave.

If they refuse to leave or return within 24 hours they can be arrested and fined or jailed for six months.

The move was in response to a growing tide of complaints about antisocial behaviour.

But traders at shops including Fancy Pants, The Hairdressing Shop and Fresh and Fruity say the new powers are not working.

"There are groups of youths spread out on the railings outside the shops, effing and blinding, drinking and intimidating older people," said owner of The Hairdressing Shop Brenda Lambert.

"They throw their rubbish. They spit. It is affecting trade."

She added: "These shops are for the people of this estate. But the majority of the people here are not using the shops because of the trouble caused by the minority."

A member of staff from Fancy Pants, who asked not be named, said: "They stop people coming into our shops.

"We tell them we will call the police but they just give us verbal abuse."

The traders said they had hoped the new dispersal orders would improve life but have been disappointed.

"We were under the impression that things would get better," said Mrs Lambert. "We were quite hopeful. But things are no better."

Inspector Steve Latham of Bitterne Police said since the exclusion zones came into force 30 dispersal orders have been issued in Hinkler Road and three arrests have been made. Two youths were cautioned while one was arrested last week for failing to comply with the order.

"We can't just order people away. We can only issue the orders if they are behaving in an antisocial manner. If they are then we can order