PUBS in Padiham are sending out a warning to potential Christmas troublemakers -- behave or be barred for life.

The Pubwatch scheme, which covers every hostelry in the town, has decided to mete out the harsh punishment in order to keep pubs safe over the holiday period.

A meeting was held this week and the proposal was accepted unanimously by landlords and licensees. Co-ordinator for Padiham Pubwatch Granville Lord said: "We want to publicise the fact very strongly that we don't want any thugs or drugs over the Christmas period.

"The Padiham Pubwatch will deal with troublemakers in a very strong way and anyone causing trouble will be barred for life from every pub in Padiham. Lancashire Police are also being informed."

Under the Pubwatch scheme, drinkers who start fights, threaten pub staff or use drugs could find themselves banned from every bar in town.

If any customer causes trouble in one pub, then all of the scheme's member pubs can ban them for life.

Mr Lord, who is also a Padiham councillor and a member of the council's licensing committee, does not want to stop revellers letting their hair down at Christmas, but thinks it important that people should feel safe in the pubs.

"We wish everyone to have a very merry Christmas, but we want people to have a good time in as peaceful a manner as possible", he added.