A TRIAL date has been fixed for a teenager accused of defying a police order in Lowerhouses.

The 15-year-old, from Lowerhouses, appeared at Huddersfield magistrates' court on Monday.

He denied a charge of knowingly disobeying a police officer.

The youngster will go on trial on September 9 at Huddersfield Youth Court.

He was given unconditional bail.

He was arrested on June 24, when police officers asked him and his friends to move away from a take-away at Lowerhouses.

The group of 10-to 16-year-olds were told they had 10 minutes to leave the area.

When police returned at 6.50pm, they found that everybody except the 15-year-old defendant had left the area.

He denied doing anything wrong and said he was waiting for his food order.

The police officers were acting under new powers brought in under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

On June 23 - the day before the teenager's arrest - Huddersfield police commander, Chief Supt Barry South, set up a three-month pilot scheme in Lowerhouses so officers could try out the powers in a bid to put and end to bad behaviour in the area.

It ends in September.

The powers mean that between 9pm and 6am police can ask youngsters under 16 to move on if they are congregating in groups, or are suspected of causing a nuisance such as vandalism, abuse and intimidation.

If they refuse to leave, they face arrest.