VIOLENT thugs are being warned they will be banned from drinking in Bolton town centre.

Police have vowed to use civil orders known as Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) to banish yobs responsible for attacks, from the town's main nightspots.

The latest lout to receive an ABC was the 38-year-old who punched landlady of the Blue Boar, Michelle Parkinson, after she asked him to leave the pub last month.

Pictures of drinkers on the blacklist will be circulated to pubs, bars and clubs across the town. Landlords will be urged not to serve them and contact police if they are spotted on licensed premises.

PC Garry Lee, the licensing officer for Bolton Police, said: "We will use ABC's against anybody responsible for violence against drinkers, door staff or licensees.

"A lot of good work has been done to make Bolton a safe place to enjoy a night out and we want to keep it that way.

"We will work with landlords to make sure that these people can't be a menace to Bolton's night-time economy."

The contracts are not enforceable by law, but PC Lee said any breach could used as evidence by police to seek Anti-Social Behaviour Orders at court.

The 38-year-old man was asked to sign the contract after being given a caution for assaulting Mrs Parkinson, also aged 38.

A police spokesman said the man had been given a caution for the offence because he had no previous convictions.

PC Lee added that an ABC would also be drawn up for the 17-year-old boy who attacked 55-year-old Ray Sutton, the landlord of the Last Orders pub in Halliwell last Saturday.

The youth was given a caution because of his age and the fact that he does not have a criminal record.

News of the bans was last night welcomed by Mrs Parkinson, who said it was a step in the right direction.