WILTSHIRE Police has issued a dispersal order for Melksham town centre after several reports of drinking and aggressive begging in the town.

The Section 35 dispersal order was put in place at 3.23pm yesterday (Monday, May 22) and will run for 48 hours until 3.23pm on Wednesday, May 24.

Police have received a number of reports from members of the public in the past week that a group of males and females have been aggressively begging and generally being anti-social.

PCSO Helen Wilson said: "We are responding to concerns raised by the community about aggressive street beggars and anti-social behaviour.

“It’s important that people feel a sense of pride in their community and feel able to peacefully walk around Melksham town centre - so we are determined to stamp out any behaviour which negatively impacts on this.

“We will be dealing appropriately with anyone we see breaching this order."

A dispersal order gives police the power to disperse groups of two or more people in any public place if their presence "has resulted, or is likely to result, in any members of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed".

To report an incident, call 101. In an emergency, call 999.