Police are ordering teenagers out of Birmingham city centre at night to help protect St Philip's Cathedral.

Officers have introduced 'curfew-style' dispersal powers from the Anti-Social Behaviour Act to fight persistent problems around the Grade One listed building and other city centre locations.

The latest powers to "remove under-16s to their place of residence for up to 24 hours" were introduced into the area in December to target young troublemakers who are in the city after 9pm.

The cathedral, in St Philip's Square, has suffered most in the last two years and has been subject to a number of vandalism attacks.

Some of the important monuments inside the grounds - including a memorial to the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings and graves that are more than 100 years old - have been damaged.

Dean of Birmingham Cathedral, the Very Rev Bob Wilkes, said: "The police have been very proactive and we are very pleased with the way the situation has been improved."