POLICE officers have placed a dispersal order across the whole of Witham after firework-related incidents in the town.

The dispersal order was put in place just after 8pm this evening and will remain in place until 1am on Thursday.

The order is a preventative measure to allow officers to prevent further incidents of anti-social behaviour in Witham overnight.

Acting Insp Kevin Mayle said: “This dispersal order has been put in place in light of the behaviour of a small minority of people behaving irresponsibly and dangerously.

“We want to make sure everyone is able to enjoy Halloween night and this dispersal order gives us the powers to ensure that.”