Youths were seen causing "carnage" in Leigh Old Town with broken glass and food strewn "everywhere."

A dispersal order was put in place from 6.30pm last night, for 24 hours, following the anti-social behaviour and Covid breaches.

Business owners have spoken out of the trouble, with "huge crowds" seen on the seafront and in the Old Town.

There are now fears the street drinkers will return once the dispersal order has finished.

Echo: Dispersal orderDispersal order

Sara Welton, the owner of Sara's Tea Gardens in the old town, said: "It was carnage, it was so bad.

"There was broken glass everywhere. The bins are so full.

"I feel sorry for the bin men, there's rubbish everywhere.

"A bike was lobbed into the sea, that was being pulled out this morning.

"There was no social distancing at all.

"It just feels like the Old Town won't be getting back to how it used to be.

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"The problem was just moved onto Chalkwell after 6.30pm. The situation down there is just as bad this morning."

The Echo understands quadbikes were being ridden through the Old Town yesterday afternoon.

This comes just a month after the murder of Luke Bellfield in Leigh.

Leigh also saw a wave of street drinking last summer, which prompted calls for a permanent public space protection order to be introduced.