YOBS making life a misery for Marlow residents will be banned from certain streets – and could face jail.

Troublemakers will be excluded in a six month trial zone from the residential area around Gunthorpe Road as police and council chiefs try to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

A 'dispersal zone', starting in March, aims to stop and identify troublemakers.

There has been increasing reports of abuse and threats to residents and damage has also been done to property and cars.

Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers will have new powers to disperse groups of two or more.

Anyone banned from the area who returns within 24 hours may be arrested and fined £2,500 or three months imprisonment.

Cllr Katrina Wood, Wycombe District Council Cabinet Member for Community, said: “Anti-social behaviour which blights the lives of Marlow residents will simply not be tolerated.”

Inspector Ray Wilks of Thames Valley Police said: “Marlow is a safe place to be and we want to make sure that it stays this way and that those responsible for causing these problems are aware of the consequences of their actions.”