POLICE in Preston and Leyland will be cracking down on binge drinkers and alcohol-related violence over the bank holiday weekend.

Using high profile patrols, they will target known trouble spots, enforce street drinking bans, and carry out random tests on stores and off-licences to discourage owners from selling alcohol to underage drinkers.

Operation Nightsafe is a coordinated effort by police across the county, designed to curb alcohol-related crime and accidents.

It comes after figures released in April, by the British Crime Survey, revealed alcohol accounts for about half of violent crime, and at peak times 70 percent of accident and emergency admissions are due to alcohol.

Anticipating the bank holiday binge, 35 officers will patrol in Preston city centre and 24 will be taking part in the clampdown in Leyland and Bamber Bridge.

Inspector Dave Asbridge, of Preston Police, said: "The bank holiday this time last year was quite bad. Good weather and people having more time off work can be a problem."

Officers will target binge drinking, underage drinkers, and renegade pub and club landlords.

They have already been talking to licensees ahead of the weekend to remind them of the rules, such as not serving alcohol to people who are already drunk.

A high profile presence will enforce street drinking bans and address problems at taxi ranks. Teenagers under 18 will face having a youth referral form sent to their parents if they are caught boozing.

Trading standards, in partnership with the police, will also be carrying out test purchasing operations on shops and off-licences, to remind owners they can receive a £1,000 fine for selling alcohol to under 18s.

The same rule applies to people buying alcohol for underage drinkers.

Jim Potts, chief trading standards officer for Lancashire County Council, said: "Teenage disorder and drunkenness on the streets features highly in what citizens ask us to deal with. This operation will also help address this."

The Office of National Statistics estimates the annual cost of alcohol misuse to be £20billion, and 88 percent of criminal damage to result from alcohol.

A spokesman for Preston Police said: "It is a coincidence that this operation is happening before the Euro 2004 football championships, however, that is not to say that it will not help with football and drink related disorder."

Assistant chief constable, Julia Hodson, added: "We want people to have a good night out, but we want them to make sure their behaviour does not impinge on the ability of others to do likewise.

"The upcoming bank holiday Nightsafe operation will be the first of many that demonstrate our commitment to reducing alcohol-related disorder throughout the county."