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A tree in a Wirral park was chopped down because yobs were hurling apples from it at passing cars.

Wirral Council confirmed the mature tree in Central Park, Wallasey, was felled last week after a spate of anti-social behaviour.

The ECHO understands the decision to remove the tree, on the edge of the park by Liscard Road, was taken after it became a focus for troublemakers plaguing the area.

Wirral Council said it would be replaced with a similarly mature tree.

The park has become a hotspot for disorder in recent weeks, with Merseyside Police reporting an increase in loutish behaviour and criminal damage.

Liscard councillor Bernie Mooney said: “Anything we can do to stop anti social behaviour is welcome, and we are also trying and find things for the youths to do as well, for example our youth hubs.

“We are keen to try and get to the bottom of it and find out why it is such a problem, but anti-social behaviour is a problem everywhere.

“The police and council are doing everything they possibly can.”

Last weekend Merseyside Police enforced a dispersal zone in the area in a bid to stop the trouble.

The temporary order, which covered the park and surrounding streets from 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Sunday, gave police the power to order suspected troublemakers to leave the area.

Assistant Neighbourhood Inspector Marc Roberts said: “There has been an increase in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in this area this dispersal zone shows this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“We are working with our partners to reduce these instances and this dispersal zone is part of that work. We will continue to target that small minority that are involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour in our community. We have increased our patrols in the area to deal with this.

“We have listened to the concerns of our community and we realise the impact that this behaviour can have on them. This is not intended to affect those people going about their legitimate business but targeting those that are involved in this behaviour.”

The area covered by the dispersal zone included Liscard Road, Liscard Way, Sunbury Road, Rivington Road, Barrington Road, Kingsley Road, Poulton Road, Oxton Road, Love Lane, Devonshire Road and Wallasey Road including the area of Central Park.

Anyone in the area with information about anti-social behaviour is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.