GANGS of teenagers are causing mayhem in Stourbridge, Merry Hill, Dudley and Halesowen - leading police to introduce a dispersal order on bus stations in all four areas.

Groups of around 30 youths, whose ages range from 12 to 17, have abused members of the public, thrown glass bottles, smoked cannabis and damaged shopping centres.

They are brazenly flouting coronavirus legislation which means it is illegal to gather in a group of six or more people from outside your household.

West Midlands Police have put dispersal orders on Stourbridge, Merry Hill, Dudley and Halesowen bus stations - giving them the power to move along anyone acting in an anti-social manner for 24 hours.

Stourbridge News:

The orders, which are renewed every 24 hours, are designed to stop the troublesome teens in their tracks.

A meeting is being held today (Wednesday October 21) with representatives from shopping centres, the police, Dudley Council and Safer Travel to discuss a more permanent solution.

Halesowen Business Improvement District (BID) manager Vicky Rogers said: "It's been a nightmare, they have damaged the shopping centre, there's around 20 to 30 of them aged from 12 to 17, who are terrorising members of the public.

"They have no respect for authority and think they are untouchable.

"The bus station is a gateway into the town centre - the town is already struggling with the coronavirus restrictions, however this group don't think the rules apply to them.

"They ignore any form of authority and don't understand what a world pandemic is."

Vicky said the group had an altercation with a member of the public in Halesowen who had their 5-year-old child with them at the time.

The child was so scared by the incident that they are now afraid to leave their home.

In one incident they sprayed silly string all over Halesowen bus station, creating a nightmare clean-up.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "The dispersals have been put in place intermittently over the last two weeks.

"They have been covering Dudley, Merry Hill, Halesowen and Stourbridge Bus Stations.

"Anyone who engages in Anti Social Behaviour will be dispersed for a period of 24 hours."

They said the orders run for a maximum of 48 hours at a time.