THUGS terrorising Blackpool's pubs and clubs are being served a sober warning this week as two notorious trouble-makers were barred from drinking in the resort.

Karl John Etherington, 26, of South Shore, and Graham Barry Penfold, 35, of Poulton, have been banned from all licensed premises in the town centre for twelve months by The Town Centre Licensee's Forum as part of its "Ban The Thug" campaign.

Forum spokesman Joe Curran explained: "At Monday's meeting of the Licensee's Forum we took a ballot to bar the two individuals and the decision was unanimous. These two men are notorious for anti-social behaviour and assaulting members of door staff.

"This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated by the licensees and all the other agencies working to make Blackpool a safer place.

"Mr Etherington already had a six-month ban last year for anti-social behaviour and Luminar Leisure has also taken the step of giving him a life ban at its Waterfront nightclub in Blackpool and every other Luminar venue in the country."

Licensing Sgt Tony Bushell also attended the meeting and said: "Lancashire Police is supporting the Forum and, although we can't actually arrest him or Mr Penfold for trying to enter local premises, if they try to use force and we are called out then we will take a positive stand.

"The town's licensees are also working well with the Radio Link system and when one group arrives at a venue and causes trouble they can radio ahead to the next venue to warn them."

DC Ian Mather, who is responsible for reducing violent crime in the town, added: "These two trouble-makers have intimidated door staff and the public, made threats of violence and assaulted people and have been completely blas about it. 'Ban The Thug' is an excellent idea." "The licensees are setting an example to others that they are not going to put up with this sort of behaviour. All the door staff in the town know them and also the door staff who work for Steve Swallow will also be barring Mr Etherington from all their venues including venues in the Poulton area. We will also be passing information on to our Cleveleys and Poulton stations. "Ban The Thug should get more of these people and the licensees need to be strong and continue making a stand.

"But they also need to be more selective about serving to drunken persons. Lancashire Police will also be enforcing the on-street drinking ban as we now have the power of arrest."