PUB thugs are to be targeted in a high-tech re-launch of a bar watch scheme.

Padiham Pub Watch is being re-vamped - and police today said it will be bigger and better than before.

Improvements include community radios in licensed premises and better CCTV links.

Almost every one of Padiham's 16 pubs will be taking part in the scheme - a partnership between the police and licensees.

By meeting regularly and sharing information, both police and pub workers hope to deter potential troublemakers and reduce the risk of drink-related crime.

All licensed premises will get posters publicising their involvement in the scheme and anyone found misbehaving in a member pubs will be banned from all them.

Photographs of banned troublemakers are to be circulated by police to licensees to ensure this.

One landlord who has joined the pub watch scheme is Tom Cockram of the Flying Dutchman, Burnley Road, who said he believes the project will be beneficial.

Tom, 52, said: "We joined it because places where we have been before had similar schemes which worked well. We now have a list of excluded customers who have caused problems in the past.

"They are also thinking of introducing a radio system which will be a good thing as we will be able to keep in touch with other landlords."

John Parr, who has taken over from Granville Lord as the new chairman of the Padiham Pub Watch Committee, said: "We are calling time on pub crime. The re-vamped pub watch will keep all people out of the pubs if they have done acts of violence in Padiham's pubs previously."

PC Derek Mitchell, Padiham community beat manager, said: "A pub watch scheme has been in existence in Padiham for some time now and it's enjoyed a good degree of success. However, as with all things, there is always room for improvement.

"The new scheme will be bigger and better than the old one, with new developments like the planned introduction of community radios and improved CCTV links."