Schoolchildren are being warned to behave on their last day of term or go home, as police put in a dispersal order.

The order, which is in place between 4pm and midnight tonight, is as a result of anti-social behaviour.

There are reports of school pupils acting anti-socially by either drinking and smoking, congregating or shouting abuse on their last day of school.

The dispersal order means police can ask groups of two people or more to leave an area immediately for over the period and officers can also detain any child under 16 and return them to their home address.

Breaching the order is a criminal offence and any failure to comply could result in a fine or even up to three months in prison.

The order covers the c2c rail line from Leigh to Chalkwell in the north, the coastline in the south, Chalkwell Avenue in the east and Leigh train station in the west.

Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour is asked to call Southend Community Policing Team on 101.