A YOB has been banned from Colchester’s Castle Park until the end of the year after a spate of antisocial behaviour.

The man was part of a large group which was spotted shouting and swearing near to the sensory garden in the upper section of the town centre park on Thursday.

A few minutes later, residents say the language turned “threatening” and it appeared as if a fight was going to start.

Colchester Council has now confirmed the group’s “ringleader” - described as a “young adult male” - has been identified and banned from the park for six months.

Bosses say they will also take separate steps to stop the area being used by gangs of people.

Mike Lilley, Colchester councillor responsible for community safety, said: “Antisocial behaviour won’t be tolerated in Castle Park or indeed anywhere around the town centre.

“Action will be taken against the perpetrators and if they continue to carry out this sort of behaviour, we will ask for further measures to be put in place.”

The senior Labour councillor added zone wardens will increase their patrols of the park as a result of a rise in bad behaviour.

Mr Lilley said: “We do generally see a spike in bad behaviour in the summer simply because more people are using the park.

“But we do not want to actions of a few absolute idiots to ruin it for everyone else - which of course it actually does.” We want people to enjoy Castle Park.”

The community safety boss also said other steps could be taken to deter and catch perpetrators. He also called on residents to report criminal or antisocial behaviour to the police.

Mr Lilley said: “If you don’t report it, you are playing into the hands of the criminals - if nothing is reported there is no crime recorded and the police rely on reports in order to build up a picture of where they needed to focus their efforts.”

Council bosses say new signs at the garden will be installed, pointing out the area is for “peaceful and quiet reflection”, which will help zone wardens and police officers combat nuisance in the area.

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “The ring-leader of the group has been identified by the police and today the council have written to this person, banning them from the park for a period of six months.”

Police officers went to the scene and helped park rangers disperse the group. No arrests were made.