THE traditional seaside holiday has gone for good and the resort needs to adapt to the future, according to a leading Blackpool leisure figure.

But this does not mean that loutish behaviour should become acceptable, says Joe Curran (pictured), co-ordinator of the Licensees Forum.

"The days of kiss me quick hats, a ride on a donkey and a paddle in the sea are over," said Joe. "And the town must realise and adapt to its new market of young people."

Mr Curran's remarks come as the Licensees Forum steps up its plan to bring violent and lewd behaviour in the resort to an end -- moves backed by The Citizen which has been conducting an anti-sleaze campaign since August.

He said: "Pubs and clubs are a big attraction in the town and people who drink in them must know that violent behaviour will not be tolerated."

Police and the town centre's 58 licensees are working closely together to improve the image of the resort. New measures include:

TWO-way radio link-up of doormen to police and CCTV operators.

BANNING known troublemakers from entering all town centre pubs.

INFORMING holidaymakers of the drinking in the street ban.

PLANS for 24-hour CCTV operation.

SHATTER-proof glasses. But there is still a long way to go and Mr Curran, who is promotions manager for Yates's Wine Lodge, Talbot Square, thinks the resort's businesses have let standards slip. He said: "The licensees are doing their bit to improve the image of the town and everybody else now needs to follow suit but it is not going to happen straight away.

"Too many people have taken too much out of the town and we now need to put something back and it isn't going to happen overnight.

"We need to get the message across to people that they cannot drink in the streets and violence is not acceptable. We now have to capitalize on the new market," he said.

Supt Mike Cunningham said the introduction of staggered drinking hours was not going to be brought in as first thought. "We are working together with the licensees to improve the situation of safety," he said.

"If licensed premises demonstrate to the police that they have invested in safety we will grant late licences.

"Changes to licensing legislation with the possible 24-hour opening lie ahead and we are not necessarily against this as long as people's safety is put first.

"We want to move forward and have a common agenda so that businesses and the image of the town can prosper and people are safe."

Police and trading standards are visiting stalls in the resort over the next month to advise traders on what goods will be acceptable to display on their stalls before stock is ordered for next season.