REVELLERS will receive a 'behave' warning from an unexpected source this Christmas - giant laser messages beamed on to a town hall.

Blackburn is the first place in the country to use laser projections for crime prevention.

The messages will start being beamed on to the new town hall every Saturday night, from December 3.

Messages include: "Welcome to Blackburn town centre, have a safe and enjoyable evening!", "Drunkenness and all its consequences will not be tolerated on the streets of Lancashire", and information on where to get a taxi.

Also being beamed will be: "Disorderly behaviour could result in an £80 on-the-spot fine, while drunkenness will result in arrest first and a fine later", "Think, have you had too much to drink???", and requests for information about crime.

Police and council chiefs are launching the scheme ahead of the festive period when violent crime typically rises.

But it is also designed to link in with next week's extension of opening hours for pubs and clubs after fears that later last orders will lead to more violence.

Messages will be beamed on the town hall on the King William Street side, from 9pm to 11.30pm, and then on the Church Street side until the early hours.