LEIGH'S town centre booze ban zone is to be extended early in the New Year.

The move follows protests by churches, schools and residents affected when street drinkers, hit by the pioneering Civic Square prohibition two years ago, moved on to their locality.

The second belt will stretch from Leigh Bridge to Windermere Road and from Silk Street across to Grasmere Street and will include the war memorial gardens and bus station.

The move has been welcomed by the Leigh Town Centre Management and Risk Management Groups who fought to win the first ban in the borough and have campaigned for the second.

Groups' chairman Cllr Brian Jarvis said: "It can't come quick enough. We are now hoping that ban two, which covers a good slice of the town centre, will eradicate all the problems caused by street drinking.

"We wanted blanket cover two years ago but because of legal reasons it was not possible.

"However, the ban itself is not going to solve the problem. Along with the enforcement order there has got to be adequate policing.

"Although this is good news we are still have problems with people ignoring the ban in the town hall square. The message doesn't seem to have sunk in with them.

"In the new year, extra police and support officers will be coming on stream and we should see a bigger presence on the streets.

"With police being more diligent and the new ban we hope we can eradicate the problem once and for all. It really has been a big nuisance."

Before making the order the council must consult with police and owners of land and property in the designated area.

Large scale plans of the ban zone area are available for inspection in Leigh Town Hall and any representations in respect of the proposed order must be made in writing to Susan D Lowe, director of legal services, Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN by January 23.