BURY'S thriving Pub and Club Watch scheme is the toast of the town.

Every pub in Bury has signed up to the initiative, which aims to call time on troublemakers.

To reinforce the message that unruly patrons could face a three-year ban from such establishments, a poster has been presented to each member pub.

The posters will be hung in all pubs taking part in the Pub and Club Watch, launched by Bury police last year.

Initially, the scheme was started in Prestwich and Whitefield and now has more than 70 members.

Now it has expanded into Bury and, hopefully, by the end of the year it will embrace pubs in Radcliffe, Tottington and Ramsbottom.

On Tuesday (March 23), Bury landlords gathered at the Elton View Hotel to receive their posters. The meeting was hosted by Bury police divisional licensing officer, Police Constable Ruth Halligan.

She explained: "The scheme is all about promoting safety in pubs on behalf of the licensees, their families and staff."

The major aim is to bond a stronger relationship between police and licensees, enhancing lines of communication and boosting intelligence gathering.

PC Halligan said: "We will have a closer working relationship between ourselves and the trade.

"If someone is barred from a pub in, say Prestwich, it means they can't go into a pub elsewhere in the borough."

Troublemakers face a ban if found guilty of being involved in drugs, serious assaults, or criminal damage.

PC Halligan says the area is virtually trouble-free and the watch scheme should maintain the peace.

"We're very lucky here in that respect and we want to keep it that way."

A total of 87 pubs in the Bury area are members of the scheme. They are split into five geographical areas. Landlords and police will meet regularly to discuss mutual concerns.

PC Halligan is delighted with success so far.

"This was tried 10 years ago but failed. But since I've been here, I've seen how similar schemes have worked in other areas. In Bury, we'll be having quarterly meetings."

On Tuesday, courtesy of Bury police, licensees received framed posters which spell out the action to be taken to exclude pub troublemakers.

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