LAST orders might have been called on street drinking but alcohol ban supporters are still waiting for the law to come into force.

A by-law outlawing street boozing should have been in place by now but a frustrating delay has come about because of the need for an in-depth survey demanded before Home Office agreement can be given to clean up Leigh.

"I live in hope that we will eventually get there because this is one of the most controversial issues we have dealt with," said Cllr Brian Jarvis, chairman of Leigh town centre management and also the watchdog risk management groups.

"We're always getting complaints about the drinkers who congregate around the civic centre, the library and town hall. We persuaded the police and local authority to reach agreement and having achieved this as a big breakthrough we were hopeful the by-law would be in place by now. But things have a habit of turning out not to be so easy.

"Police, the local authority and community safety panel have had to make submissions and a comprehensive survey carried out with local businesses, residents and street drinkers.

"It has been very frustrating."

The survey brought some interesting findings. Among those who regularly drank alcohol on the streets were young people who had left home and those with drug and alcohol problems.

Cllr Jarvis commented: "If people have problems, they need help -- but it is my intention to get the area around the civic centre cleaned up. There has been a delay through no fault of ours."

He said new legislation was being introduced on a national level and when that had been finalised the local by-law would come in to force.