BLACKPOOL leisure bosses are calling on the big breweries to dig deeper into their pockets and invest to improve the safety of the town.

The call comes after a week of dangerous pranks and fights in the resort involving young people needlessly stretching the emergency services.

But as the future of the town's tourism hangs in the balance it seems brewery bosses are dragging their feet and town centre manager Nigel Hanson has been left disappointed at their response so far.

He said: "The licensees are working hard along with the police to try and make the town safer by putting together different initiatives but I feel there is far greater opportunities for the brewers and drinks suppliers to financially support the community. We have approached the big brewers and so far I am disappointed with their response." The Citizen has highlighted in a series of front page articles how the town has recently moved towards catering more for stag and hen parties and groups of young people. But this week the fire service blasted their irresponsible behaviour. The drunken antics of stags and hens have kept emergency services busy rescuing youths who have been chained up to railings which has prevented them from attending emergency cases.

The latest trouble happened in the early hours of yesterday morning (Wednesday) when a street brawl erupted on Market Street.

Six patrols attended the fight in which a woman police officer was punched in the face. Gemma Watson, aged 18, of High Street, North Shore, has been charged with a public order offence and assaulting a police officer and Peter Harris, of Westway, Prenton, Liverpool, has been charged with a public order offence. They are both expected to appear later today (Thursday) at Blackpool Magistrates' Court.

Joe Curran, spokesman for the Blackpool Licensees' Forum, agreed with Mr Hanson's comments. He said: "It's not so bad really considering around 17 million people come here each year. Licensees are continuing to improve safety measures and it is important the breweries get financially involved to step up security measures in the town.

"The future of Blackpool still lies with stag and hen parties and it is important that the police work with the fire service so that the emergency services' time is not wasted by being called out to attend men who have been chained to railings."