TROUBLEMAKERS could be locked up in a prison van parked in Bolton town centre if the first night of new relaxed licensing laws gets out of hand.

The van will be parked outside the police station in Le Mans Crescent, to be used as an overspill if the cells get full.

Police are using a range of measures to tackle an expected rise in the number of incidents as pubs and clubs take advantage of the new 24-hour licensing laws.

A CCTV mobile police van will also be used, filming any potential troublemakers.

And a police officer will be on duty in Bolton Council's CCTV suite.

They have vowed:

* to arrest or issue troublemakers with a fixed penalty notice of £80

* keep anti-social punters locked up until they are sober

* put extra patrols in Farnworth and Westhoughton town centres

It will amount to one of the biggest ever police operations on the streets of Bolton and follows the controversial new licensing laws which come into effect from midnight, allowing licensed premises to stay open all night.

Although only one bar - Elements in Bradshawgate - has so far successfully applied to serve round the clock opening from 7am on Friday until 7am on Monday, the remainder of pubs and clubs in the town have all applied and been issued with new licences.

And because of that, extra police officers have been drafted into the town centre over the next four nights to crack down on violence and alcohol-related crime.

The introduction of the new laws coincides with the start of the traditional build-up to the festive period, with thousands of people flocking to Bolton for a night out.

A large number of officers will be on duty from 7pm and throughout the night to prevent any outbreaks of drink-fuelled violence and nuisance.

The high profile operation will run every weekend until the New Year.

Trading standards and licensing officers will also be visiting premises to make sure they are complying with their licences.

They will be using "spy" kids to make sure licensees are not breaking the law and for the first time, anyone caught selling alcohol to under 18s will be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

For the first time this weekend, taxi marshals will be on duty Friday and Saturday at the ranks in Nelson Square, Bradshawgate and Bridge Street from 10pm until 5am to help pub-goers make their way home safely.

A similar service will also be available at the night time bus stops in Bridge Street and Bradshawgate.

Pubs which have previously been served with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts for serving underage customers, will also be monitored.

Extra officers will also be on duty in Farnworth and Westhougton town centres

Operation Townsafe, which is being run by the BSAFE, the Safer Bolton Strategic Partnership, is aimed at reducing street and alcohol-related violent crime in the borough.

Chief Insp Martin Greenhalgh, head of Townsafe, said there will be not let up in the work to improve night-time safety in Bolton following the change to the licensing laws.

He said: "We are not anticipating any change in the way people socialise in Bolton but anyone who causes trouble will be dealt with firmly.

"With the introduction of the new law, we will just have to wait and see what effect it has.

"We want to reassure the public that Bolton is, and continues to be, a safe place for an enjoyable night out."