LANCASHIRE Police is making more use of on-the-spot fines for drunks than almost any other police force in the country.

They claim the fixed penalty fines of £50 are speeding up the process of dealing with intoxicated troublemakers and freeing up more time for bobbies on the beat.

New figures show in 2004 Lancashire police issued 2,869 of the notices to drunk and disorderly individuals out of 26,609 across England and Wales.

That was more than Merseyside at 2,728 and exceeded only by the Metropolitan Police in London with 4,081. But in the first six months of 2005 Lancashire topped the league with 2,567, more than Merseyside's 2,066 and the Met's 1,688 out of 19,043 nationwide.

The news of the on the spot fine blitz has been welcomed by East Lancashire Labour MPs Gordon Prentice and Greg Pope. But Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans said he wanted to know how many of the drunks pay their fines.

Insp John Clucas said: "About 97 per cent of people accept them rather than going to court. It saves a lot of time and the payment rate is much the same as for court fines."

Pendle MP Mr Prentice said: "If this is an effective way of tackling the problem, well done to Lancashire police."

Hyndburn MP Mr Pope said: "This is brilliant. If it's saving time and money and tackling anti social behaviour, other forces should follow their example."