Crime levels have dropped in a seaside town after two teenage brothers were excluded from certain areas.

Ben White, 17, and his brother Robert, 15, were made the subject of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), banning them from parts of Weston-super-Mare.

The brothers were named by a court for their repeat offending in the North Somerset town.

Police say crime levels have also fallen because a small group of youths have signed "Acceptable Behaviour Contracts," agreeing to certain restrictions on their actions.

Only a very small minority of youths in Weston do come to the attention of the police.

Inspector Nigel Woods

A police spokesman said: "The level of youth crime in Weston-super-Mare has dropped during the previous three months.

"Following the imposition of ASBOs on two teenage boys in Weston and anumber of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) on youths, the number of incidents reported to police has decreased."

Officers are also working with North Somerset Council and the Youth Offending Team to provide activities for youngsters in the area.

Inspector Nigel Woods said: "Only a very small minority of youths in Weston do come to the attention of the police."

In March, Robert White - who admitted shoplifting, fighting and stealing cars since the age of 12 because he was "bored" - told the Kilroy TV programme that he was "determined to change".

Ben White told the same programme he had been involved in shoplifting, theft and vandalism, claiming there was "nothing to do" in Weston and that he was "no good" at anything.