Three brothers have been banned from parts of Southport in Merseyside after admitting more than 40 violent offences.

The trio was alleged to have committed 86 offences, including robberies and assaults, but pleaded guilty to 41 between them.

On Tuesday magistrates in South Sefton, Bootle, heard the Gelling brothers had waged their terror campaign for more than a year.

Revealing the identities of James, Ashley and Jordan, aged 15, 12 and 11 was in the public interest said the district judge who heard the case.

Young visitors and young residents of Southport were terrorised by [their] activities

Inspector Steve Hall, Merseyside Police

The youngsters, from Cable Street in Southport, were given a three-year anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) - the first in the town - for the offences, carried out between February 2001 and March 2002.

The Asbo bans them from Southport's Pleasureland complex and all amusement arcades in Southport town centre.

Other restrictions prevent the brothers entering businesses in Nevill Street, associating with three named boys and using abusive language to police and the public.

Inspector Steve Hall, Merseyside Police neighbourhood inspector for Southport, welcomed the court's decision, and said the Gellings were a "nuisance".

'Clear message'

He said: "They were responsible for a disproportionate amount of street crime in Southport.

"I think it is fair to say young visitors and young residents of Southport were terrorised by the activities of this group."

Mr Hall said he hoped the decision of the court would improve the quality of life of people in the town.

"It sends out a clear message that the actions of those who persist in harming the quality of life in our local communities will not be tolerated," he said.