Bradford Council is to hold talks with police in a bid to extend new powers for dealing with troublemakers beyond its own estates.

The move would mean people in both private and local authority houses could face action in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

The Council and police will both get strong new powers under Jack Straw's Crime and Disorder Bill in April to tackle a string of offences by people who disrupt communities.

Both will be able to take out orders in magistrates courts to stop behaviour which could include organised and persistent bullying of children on recreation grounds or on the way to school. The orders could also be made against people for harassing elderly or disabled people.

They could be slapped on children as young as ten and adults could face five year prison sentences or maximum fines of £5,000 if they break the rules.

But Bradford Council housing chief Jim O'Neill said the authority would look at the possibility of using its powers across the wider community as well as on its own estates.

Such a decision would have to be approved by the Council.

He added: "Jack Straw has given us the power to do this and we want to do it as soon as possible, co-ordinating our Council-wide resources."

Talks will be held by the Council and police in the next few weeks to discuss the matter.

Bradford police divisional commander Chief Superintendent Dave Richardson said they were expecting to be in talks with the Council about implementing the new powers.

Today retired magistrate and former councillor Eric Sunderland said: "The Council is on the right tack. If it only acted on the estates, the hooligans would be driven into other areas. I think they must act for all their Council taxpayers."

A spokesman from Bradford West Tenants' Federation also welcomed the move. "I think people are going to welcome this, particularly in Clayton, where there are real problems," he said.

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said: "I am very pleased the Council is considering extensive use of its powers.

"Trouble doesn't just occur on Council estates."

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