A TWELVE year old boy has been charged with assault and possession of a knife after police were called to an alleged disturbance at Poole Bus Station.

Dorset Police confirm they received a report of a boy seen in possession of a knife in the bus station area around 8.45pm on Tuesday.

It was also alleged a youngster pushed and made threats to a teenage boy.

A police spokesman said: "Officers attended and a suspect was arrested nearby in Longfleet Road.

"He was searched and reportedly found to be in possession of a small amount of a suspected class B drug.

"No knife was recovered."

Reports of anti-social behaviour from local youths at the bus station have caused consternation among local businesses and bus passengers in recent months.

According to reports a group of foreign language students, aged 13-17, were also in the bus station at the time of Tuesday's 'disturbance'.

The manager of a foreign student touring company, who asked the Echo not to be named, said: "We have constantly had issues in the bus station to a minor or lesser degree.

"There was a knife-wielding situation on Tuesday evening, when challenged he did a runner.

"Our students were pushed and jostled by a gang of local kids.

"I think our students appear to be easy targets, because they are not residents and the implication is they will not take it any further as they are moving on.

"We've been working in this area for 37 years now, we love the town, it has great beaches and a fantastic lifestyle."

"We were down there last night from about 5.30pm, sat in one of the coffee bars overlooking the bus station.

"From 8-9pm it is like the wild west, it is absolutely wacky.

"Roughly 3,000 students a year come over with us, and they are all quite happy spending their money in Poole, they are a valuable resource for businesses in Poole."

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "A 12-year-old local boy has been charged with assault, possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence and possessing a class B drug.

"He is due to appear at Poole Youth Court on Tuesday 6 August 2019."