FIVE young people from Burnley who police said were making the lives of people in their community a misery have been ordered to behave or face imprisonment.

Masum Tahir, 19, of Cromwell Street, and two 17-year-olds accepted a two year Anti-Social Behaviour Order and Alhaj Mamud, 21, of Throstle Close, and Salim Baksh, 19, of Colne Road, were given orders by the court, despite opposing them.

If they breach the orders they could be taken back to court and face up five years in prison.

The court decided not to impose similar orders on Ghulam Hussain, 18, of Burns Street, and Amjad Khan, 18, of Arley Gardens, following a full day hearing. Earlier this year 13 young people from Daneshouse and Stoneyholme were served with interim orders in a bid to protect the community.

Some have since moved away from the area and the police only pursued full orders on seven of the original group.

The orders made prohibit them from causing alarm and distress, from causing criminal damage, from assault and being in the possession of anything made as a weapon and from interfering with road signs.

Inspector Richard Robertshaw said the police were satisfied with the decision of the court.

He said: "We were disappointed that they weren't prepared to accept the evidence for the two who were not made subject to ASBOs. However, by granting five of the seven orders against individuals who the community had identified as being responsible for a long history of anti-social behaviour we hope the quality of life for residents in the area will be significantly improved.

"We were disappointed that it came to the point where we felt anti-social behaviour orders were necessary and we are now working with the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse Action Group to try and prevent the further need for such action."

Shah Hussain, who is involved in setting up the action group and is also secretary of the Stoneyholme and Daneshouse Community Association, which runs the area's community centre, said he did not think ASBOs were effective way of tackling the problems.

He said: "I do not think victimising these five young people in this way will help - it may even have a negative effect on these individuals."

Mr Hussain added: "Even when the interim orders were made there were still incidents.

"Giving people ASBOs does not make the problem go away and we now need to take a deeper look at the reasons for this behaviour."