POWERS used to ban baby-faced tearaway Shane Gibbons from parts of Bolton could be used against a further 27 problem teenagers.

Bolton Council chiefs are looking into the option of using new anti-social behaviour orders on seven groups of teenagers identified as troublemakers.

The youths, who are aged between 13 and 19 and include two girls, have committed a wide range of offences from petty vandalism to serious crimes leading to prison.

Shane Gibbons, aged 14, became the first person in Bolton to get an order when he was banned for five years from areas near his home in Sharples.

Now officers from Bolton Council are working with agencies including the police and youth project workers to decide whether to serve further orders.

Another option being considered is the possible eviction of teenagers, and their families, from council houses.

Jill Hughes, Bolton Council's social behaviour co-ordinator, said: "Some of the cases are four to five individuals in a group and the seriousness of their behaviour varies. It is very unusual to have one individual standing out like Shane Gibbons.

"We continue to look for positive solutions but, if when we look at the evidence we feel enforcement is necessary, we will take action.

"That might be an anti-social behaviour order or an eviction. We are not talking about these things as a last resort if they are appropriate.

"But the biggest problem is lack of evidence, so we would encourage people from the community to tell us about people who are causing misery."

Brian Iddon, Bolton South East MP, is calling on the council to use the new powers.

He said: ""I have been trying to persuade Bolton Council to take out an anti-social behaviour order since they were introduced.

"Apparently two have been threatened in the past which have managed to calm the situation down but Bolton has never gone through with one until now.

"I fully applaud the council for looking at imposing further orders because that is what people want. They want these yobbos dealing with and the government has given them this power which has been very successful in other local authorities."

Gibbons is currently in custody but the order will ban him from areas including Sharples Leisure Centre and the Oldhams Estate. to five individuals in a group and the seriousness of their behaviour varies. It is very unusual to have one individual standing out like Shane Gibbons.

"We continue to look for positive solutions but, if when we look at the evidence we feel enforcement is necessary, we will take action.

"That might be an anti-social behaviour order or an eviction. We are not talking about these things as a last resort if they are appropriate.

"But the biggest problem is lack of evidence, so we would encourage people from the community to tell us about people who are causing misery."

Brian Iddon, Bolton South East MP, is calling on the council to use the new powers.

He said: "I have been trying to persuade Bolton Council to take out an anti-social behaviour order since they were introduced.

"Apparently two have been threatened in the past which have managed to calm the situation down but Bolton has never gone through with one until now.

"I fully applaud the council for looking at imposing further orders because that is what people want. They want these yobs dealt with and the government has given them this power which has been very successful in other local authorities."

Gibbons is currently in custody but the order will ban him from areas including Sharples Leisure Centre and the Oldhams Estate.