ANTI-SOCIAL drinkers are ignoring a town centre alcohol ban imposed a year ago in Leigh.

Some of the nine offenders who this month received interim anti-social behaviour orders at Wigan magistrates' court are among the culprits.

These allegations were revealed by a disappointed Leigh Town Centre Management Committee chairman, Cllr Brian Jarvis, who is now seeking a second order to outlaw booze in the Union Street area.

He said: "It is 12 months since the borough's first ban was brought in covering the town hall square. We were looking forward to an improved situation but the gang just moved across the road.

"For 11 months we have had complaints from the MP's office and petitions from the United Reformed Church, the dance school and Weightwatchers about all kinds of disturbances in the Union Street-Church Street area.

"These complaints have been taken seriously but proved very difficult to resolve despite meetings with police and council officers.

"The police wanted to try anti-social behaviour orders, identifying offenders through the police, CCTV cameras and people giving evidence to win orders through the courts. This month nine interim orders were handed out and the police hoped this would end the problem.

"I am pushing for a second alcohol ban which will link the town hall square with the cenotaph. This is now being discussed and I am hopeful it will be implemented shortly. On the surface between the two we feel we should be able to clean both areas up.

"However, I am still receiving complaints that drinking is going on on the town hall square and that some of the people who have these orders have been seen there. If these allegations are true I am extremely disappointed. It makes you wonder what more you can do."

The cases against the nine who have received interim ASBOs will be heard before Wigan magistrates on June 10 and 11 when full orders could be granted.

The order is a civil matter but any breaches are dealt with as a criminal concern and can carry up to five years in jail.

The orders can run between two and five years and among other rules prevent the recipient from drinking in the borough unless they are within the boundary of residential or licensed premises and with the occupier's consent.