PARTYGOERS are going to be barred from Accrington town centre if they cause trouble on nights out during Christmas and New Year.

Lancashire Constabulary have warned revellers that they face a blanket ban well into the New Year as part of the town’s Pubwatch scheme.

Troublemakers will not be allowed back into the town centre until January 6.

Extra police officers will be on patrol into the early hours of the morning and taxi marshalls will be ensuring people on nights out on Friday and Saturday nights get home safely from 11pm and 4am.

The additional measures have been put in place as part of the Safer Lancashire Partnership’s Make Your Night Last, which will run until the New Year.

Make Your Night Last, run in conjunction with Lancashire Constabulary, is a campaign to warn against the dangers of drinking excessively at home before a Christmas night out.

The campaign is based on the findings of research carried out by Lancaster University for the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, which showed a rise in a trend called preloading – or drinking to get drunk at home before going to a bar or nightclub.

According to the research preloading often leads to people becoming very drunk earlier in the night and increased levels of crime and other risky behaviour.

Superintendent Bill McM-ahon, Lancashire Police’s lead on alcohol harm, said: “We will be carrying out high visibility patrols throughout December and into the New Year in order to prevent and detect alcohol related crime.”

Coun David Smith, chairman of the Safer Lancashire Part-nership, said: “We want people to enjoy themselves at Christmas so this campaign isn’t about removing the fun altogether. It’s more about encouraging people not to spoil their night by overdoing things befor going to a pub or club.”