A NEW alcohol ban has come into force in Little Lever with people facing fines of up to £80 if they drink on the streets.

Police hope the scheme will cut down on anti-social behaviour caused by excessive drinking and improve the quality of life for people living in the village.

Signs have gone up saying anyone who is found drinking alcohol on the streets or outside bars that do not have a designated drinking area could be fined £80.

Police officers will have power to confiscate any open vessel from a person found breaking the rules.

Anyone who fails to stop drinking when asked to by a police officer, and fails to provide their name and address details, could be arrested.

Vandalism and anti-social behaviour has been a long-standing problem around the central shopping precinct, the parkland near Dove Bank and Kershaw Avenue.

Sergeant Shane O'Neill said: "Excessive drinking is one of the key causes of anti-social behaviour in Little Lever village centre and we are determined to tackle it.

"These new powers give us more tools to combat and target persistent offenders and make the area a safer place."

Edward Steele Wilson, chairman of Little Lever West Residents Association, supports the ban.

He said: "It will be beneficial to the whole village because there are a number of licensees here who are still selling to under-age drinkers."

"Any ruling that enables the police to stop this problem is good news for Little Lever."

Cllr Mary Woodward said: "I have mixed feelings about the ban.

"It is a good idea in principle as we do have a problem with under-age drinking in the village, but I have concerns about how it will be policed.

"We have to do everything we can to solve the problem and I hope this works to deter them."

The first drinking ban to be introduced in Bolton was in The Haulgh in January 2003 to get rid of drunken yobs who were making people's lives a misery.

The scheme was hailed a great success resulting in a drop in crime by almost 20 per cent.

Areas in Bolton town centre have also been identified as designated no-drinking zones.