BOOZERS drinking on Leigh's streets could soon find themselves facing the sobering prospect of a court appearance.

For Leigh Business Partnership has called for a town centre ban on the bottle and wants to see a by-law to stamp out gangs of undesirables publicly drinking alcohol in the town.

The Partnership claims the yobs ruin the image of the town and often instill fear in people - particularly women and children.

The scheme, regarded as highly effective where it has been introduced, would give police powers to ask drinkers to put away their booze or face arrest.

It is all part of Leigh Business Partnership's attempt to introduce a new feeling of pride in Leigh, and it has pledged to press the council on joining them in making inroads into giving Leigh a new vibrancy as the 21st century dawns.

They have also offered the idea of a new 'corporate image' for Leigh by suggesting it has its own town livery of navy blue and gold.

Gordon Jackson, Chairman of LBP said: "We are determined to continue to promote Leigh in every way we can, and we want to push for the by-law to stop undesirables drinking in the Town Hall square and other parts of Leigh and we are very optimistic that this will happen soon."

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