A TOTAL of 971 anti-social behaviour orders have been handed out in Yorkshire since they were introduced, the Government revealed today.

More than 11% of them - a total of 109 - were handed out by courts in Kirklees between April 1999 and December 2005.

The wide-ranging orders are designed to thwart troublemakers.

In West Yorkshire there were 520 orders, 63 in North Yorkshire, 198 in South Yorkshire and 190 in the Humberside police area - made up of East Yorkshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Top of the national table was Greater Manchester, where 1,045 Asbos were issued, followed by London where 749 were made. Wiltshire was bottom of the pile with just 32 Asbos.

Home Office minister Hazel Blears said: "Anti-social behaviour can be a harrowing experience that no one should have to endure. Today's statistics show that local authorities, the police and the courts are not hesitating to use Asbos to clamp down on the problem. I am extremely encouraged that they continue to be used."