Licensees in an East Lancs town have sounded an alarm over an 'increasing' problem with drug use on their premises.

Under the Pub Watch scheme in Clitheroe, like a number of other East Lancs towns, people can be banned for using drugs in pubs and clubs.

Now publicans in Clitheroe have called for those caught out by the policy to undergo some form of drugs education work before they allowed back.

This and related concerns were aired earlier this month by licensees at a twice-yearly meeting between the trade, councillors and Ribble Valley Council licensing officers, members of the borough's licensing committee have been told.

The minutes noted there were discussions "regarding the potential requirement for those who have been banned from a licensed premise due to drug use, to have to attend an awareness course prior to any ban being lifted."

Mair Hill, the borough's head of legal and democratic services, said that the council’s Partnership officer was going to make enquiries with providers to see if there are any free drug awareness courses that people could attend, or if there is funding available for such courses.

The minutes added: "Concerns were raised with regards to drug use in licensed premises and how prevalent it seems to be. The number of people being put on Pub Watch is ever increasing but it doesn’t seem to be acting as a deterrent.

"People get banned from one town and move to another. Licensees wanted a concerted effort to address this and felt that there should be a greater police presence."

Licensees at the meeting, which included representatives from premises in Clitheroe, Longridge and Whalley, also sounded concerns about the future of Longridge Pub Watch.

READ MORE: Whalley residents' fury at sex and drugs nightlife fallout

Bar owners and publicans were worried that the scheme appeared to have "diminished significantly" in recent years and noted that the current chairman will be stepping down in September.

Those in attendance agreed that while Ribble Valley Council could 'facilitate' the reestablishment of Pub Watch in the area, "the onus is on the licensees to ensure that it works effectively".

Licensees also heard that conditions could be imposed when new premises licences were issued regarding Pub Watch membership but this only applied to fresh applications.