VIDEO film of youths fighting in Burnley town centre was shown at the launch of Operation Fizz -- a major crackdown on drunkenness and disorder.

Pictures of about 15 youths punching and kicking before a large number of police arrived were shown to highlight the problems.

Insp Steve Hartley commented: "This is not the Wild West, it is Burnley. We should be out looking for burglars rather than policing drunken incidents in the town centre."

Operation Fizz is the brainchild of Insp Hartley who said that in an effort to keep the town trouble free, particularly over the busy Easter holiday period, police had joined forces with the local authority, fire and rescue service, town centre partnership, taxi drivers, licensees and town centre owners, the Portland Group.

He added: "We want Burnley to be a place where people know they can come and have a safe and happy time."

Posters, paid for by Portland, are being distributed throughout the town and stickers are being put in 400 taxis promoting the message of sensible drinking. Police are using CCTV cameras to identify trouble spots, persistent offenders and licensed premises consistently frequented by drunken people in large numbers.

Insp Hartley said: "The vast majority of licensees are responsible people who work closely with us. But we feel we can do better and that the partnership can be even better." Portland is also promoting its national "I'm Des" designated driver scheme in support of police efforts to reduce road casualties.

Head of communications Graham Goodwin said Portland were happy to sponsor Operation Fizz. The vast majority of people enjoyed a drink without causing problems to others.

A "Don't Drink and Fry" message was given by station officer Bob Parkin of Burnley fire service who said there had already been too many tragedies involving chip pans.

He said: "People have a few beers, turn on the chip pan when the get home and then fall asleep watching television."

He said alcohol was also a factor in many of the false alarms, arson attacks and road accidents which they attended.