TEENS were told to stay out of town for the weekend after troubles flared between groups of girls.

Police put a dispersal order in place after an attack by one group on another in Victoria Park, Haywards Heath on Friday.

Inspector Darren Taylor said: “Due to an incident at Victoria Park this afternoon, I have issued a Section 35 dispersal order which came into force as of 15.24 today and will remain in place for 48 hours.

“Anyone thinking of, or acting in an antisocial manner will be required to leave the area by my team.”

Sussex Police said it follows reports of “an assault by a group of girls on two other girls earlier in the afternoon”.

Police were called in to the park, and many of those involved were spoken to. Enquiries were ongoing.

Dispersal orders can be applied under Section 35 of the Antisocial Behaviour, Police and Crime Act.

It means that people who fail to leave an area, or return to an area having been told to leave, face arrest and prosecution.

Read more on The Argus: Teens ordered to leave Hove Lawns after fights and stand-off with police

Last month The Argus reported on a dispersal order imposed at Hove Lawns as hundreds of marauding teens were spotted sparring and shouting at police.

There was a stand-off with the teenagers who would have been celebrating their prom and end of GCSE examinations, but the event was cancelled.

Similar orders have been issued in Crawley in recent weeks.

Previously a dispersal order was in place in Newhaven for a weekend after a pregnant teenager was reportedly punched in the stomach amid "gang" violence there in September.

In years gone by police issued a three-month dispersal order in Worthing town centre in 2014 over antisocial behaviour, and in 2013 Sussex Police revealed 37 were spoken to in Eastbourne and told to leave or face arrest.