Teenage tearaways will be cleared from the streets of a neighbourhood tormented by gangs.

Portslade is the second area in Brighton and Hove to be issued with a dispersal order, which gives police and community support officers tougher powers.

Patcham was the first area in England and Wales to be designated "yob-free" after extra police were drafted in to disperse groups of troublemakers.

In Portslade, scores of people have complained their lives are being disrupted by gangs of youths who drink and cause vandalism.

Chief Superintendent Paul Curtis signed the dispersal order.

Portslade North councillor Bob Carden said: "We have had problems here with gangs of 20 to 30 youngsters gathering on the streets in places like Valley Road and Mile Oak Road.

"They get hold of cans of beer and have the odd spliff of cannabis and then things begin to get a little bit lively.

"We have been getting fences kicked down and property damaged as well as the disturbance it causes to residents at night.

"Until now the police have been unable to break up the gangs unless they are committing an offence. The order gives the police the power to take the booze off them and to take any under-16s home to their parents if they are out unsupervised between 9pm and 6am."

However, Portslade South councillor Sue John said the move had come too soon after the Patcham order, which came into effect last month.

Coun John, deputy leader of the city council, said: "We should have given it six months to see what benefits the Patcham order had.

"I think it is a bit premature and in some ways it is too big a stick to use in comparison with the problem.

"A lot of money has been made available through the Single Regeneration Budget to improve youth services in Portslade. There are other ways of dealing with the problems caused by young people hanging around on the streets and a lot of good work is being done in the area by youth outreach workers.

"Some of the older people say they are frightened because the teenagers hang around wearing hooded jackets. Hoodies are fashionable and that is why they wear them, not because they are involved in causing trouble.

"I am sure that a lot of the youngsters would be horrified if they were told that what they wear is seen as frightening."

The order, which will remain in force for six months, is a joint initiative between the police and Brighton and Hove City Council. It applies to adults as well as teenagers and gives police the power to exclude individuals from designated areas for up to 24 hours.

The war against antisocial behaviour also includes on-the-spot fines for graffiti artists and noisy neighbours.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which came into force yesterday, includes powers for council wardens to issue £50 on-the-spot fines for fly-posting and graffiti. Sales of aerosol paint to under-16s have been banned, with shopkeepers facing fines of up to £2,500.

Councils have extended measures to tackle fly-tipping, including £50 penalties, and can confiscate vehicles they believe are being used to illegally dump rubbish.

Neighbours who are noisy at night can get a £100 on-the-spot fine from environmental health officers and, if they fail to pay up, can have their TVs, stereos or other audio equipment confiscated.

Sergeant David Bettis, of Hove neighbourhood policing team, said: "Portslade is still a good place to live and work but the actions of some require us to have this order available to address the worst cases.

"It must be emphasised these powers will only be used as a last resort and their use will be carefully monitored."