Three disruptive teenagers have been banned from entering certain areas in Crawley.

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders were imposed on the youths after their unruly behaviour led to bus drivers refusing to go into Bewbush and a youth centre closing for several weeks.

A ban protecting the identity of three disruptive teenagers has also been lifted.

The three, Gary Williams, 15, of Bitmead Close, Ifield, John Phillips, 15, of Waterfield Gardens, Bewbush, and Derrick Thompson, 13, of Abrahams Road, Broadfield, can be named after a ruling by district judge Paul Tain.

Insp Kevin Jemmett, of Crawley police, said: "These young people represent a core group of individuals that have habitually alarmed and upset local people, especially in Bewbush and Ifield West.

"Their general behaviour has been outside the normal processes of criminal law and these orders have allowed the police, with support of officers of Crawley Council and West Sussex County Council, to demonstrate that we are no longer prepared to tolerate actions that spoil the community's quality of life."

The teenagers have been prohibited from behaving in a manner to cause harassment, alarm or distress, entering Dorsten Square, Bewbush, and entering Bewbush youth club and Bewbush leisure centre.

In addition Williams has been banned from entering Dobbins Place community centre and the attached car park in Ifield and Phillips has been banned from driving a motorcycle or scooter.

The orders will remain in force until December 7, 2002 but the youths have a right to apply to a court for the bans to be lifted after six months.

Insp Jemmett said infringement of the bans, imposed at civil court proceedings last week, was a criminal offence which would lead to the teenagers appearing before a youth court.

Only three similar orders have been made in West Sussex.

Insp Jemmett said he hoped this would send a message to the rest of the group in which the three were involved and to other young people in Crawley.

Michael Sander, Crawley Council chief executive, said: "We welcome the news that these orders have been granted. The local community has for too long been plagued by anti-social behaviour and this council has worked closely with police to get this result.

"We are now able to send out a clear message to the small minority whose thoughtless actions cause such distress about the behaviour our community expects of its citizens."