THE SIGHT of gangs of drunken youths at a fun fair has prompted moves to ban drinking alcohol in public in parts of Clitheroe.

Police asked Ribble Valley Council to make an order controlling the consumption of alcohol in the Henthorn, Edisford Park and Low Moor areas.

The request by Clitheroe police Sgt Ian Kirk follows 60 alcohol-related incidents in the areas in the last six months. These have included general drunken or rowdy behaviour and juvenile nuisance.

The order, agreed in principle by councillors, will give police the power to prevent people drinking alcohol in designated places and to confiscate the alcohol. Anybody refusing to comply will be liable to prosecution and fined £500.

Sgt Kirk said: "The problem of drink-related incidents seems to have got worse in these areas in recent months.

"It was particularly highlighted in a fun fair held on Edisford Road car park, opposite Roefield sports centre, five weeks ago. There were large groups of drunken youths and that can be very upsetting for other people, especially those with children.

"The problem hasn't been under-age drinkers we can just confiscate their alcohol and take them home.

"It's the 18 and 19-year-olds, who are generally idolised by the younger ones, who we needed to target.

"Now, if we find anyone drinking outdoors in these areas we can confiscate the alcohol and have powers of arrest if they refuse to comply."

Councillors will now discuss with police the exact areas to be covered by the ban before carrying out consultation with pub licensees, the owners of land affected by the order, Clitheroe Town Council and local ward councillors.

The ban, which was agreed by members of the council's policy and finance committee, follows similar orders already made across the Ribble Valley.

Orders already exist in Clitheroe and Longridge town centres, Whalley, Read, Sabden, Simonstone, Chatburn, Billington and Langho.

Coun Chris Holtom said: "This has to be welcomed in general. It should be explored further before anything is finalised then it should come back to us to look at again."

Tony Rodia, manager of Roefield Leisure Centre, said: "It's extremely encouraging that the police want to ban drinking in public."