WYRE Borough Council is calling time on anti-social behaviour in Wyre and considering plans to ban drinking on the streets in the region's hotspots.

A report has been submitted to the council's policy committee from Environmental Services in conjunction with Lancashire Police which highlights the fact that the majority of alcohol-related incidents are focused around pubs and clubs in and around Fleetwood town centre.

Measures currently in place to tackle this problem include high-profile policing and extra patrols at busy times on Friday and Saturday nights.

Council leader and chairman of the policy committee Pat Catlow said: "We are extremely concerned about the number of drink related incidents committed in Wyre. We will take every possible measure to reduce them. If bye-laws are to be introduced we need to gather more evidence to persuade the Home Office that the scale of the problem in Wyre merits their introduction."

Although police representatives on the committee stressed that they are keen to support any moves to reduce crime, they expressed doubts about the effectiveness of introducing new bye-laws because the level of crime is already fairly low and other powers and community safety partnerships to tackle the problem are already in place.

Despite police reservations about the scheme, the committee is forging ahead with the next stage.

Chief executive Michael Brown explained: "Police are prepared to consider the position when they have received further information that the council have asked officers to compile. Police see the measure as part of a package of possible deterrents."

An action plan is now being drawn up between the council and police to support an application to the Home Office for the bye-laws, and police are to be invited to a further meeting of the policy committee within the next four months to move proposals forward.