LATE night trouble-makers will be banned from take-aways as part of a "kebabwatch" scheme being drawn up by local fast food firms.

The move follows the success of pubwatch initiatives -- where landlords warn each other about incidents by telephone and violent revellers are banned from all premises.

Police today welcomed the scheme, in Darwen, and said they were hopeful of repeating it elsewhere in East Lancashire if it was a success

Nasser Alipour-Azadeh, who runs the Alfresco Pizza House, Duckworth Street, Darwen, said the scheme could begin within weeks.

He added: "We want our customers to feel safe.

"If any do cause problems, we will talk to them in a calm and reasonable manner, trying to calm them down.

"If they continue to misbehave we will bar them from the shop. We are discussing with other takeaways about having a banned from one, banned from all policy."

Abdul Salique, who runs Bilash Indian Takeaway, Blackburn Road, Darwen, said: "A scheme like this seems like a good idea but it would be even better if it could somehow include measures against kids.

"The 13 and 14-year-old kids who hang around outside throwing stones and breaking windows are unbelievable."

PC Steve Finlay, the licensing police officer for Blackburn with Darwen area, said: "This scheme has merit, and it is something we are looking to do in Blackburn too.

"We are aware that people can carry on socialising after pubs shuts because the takeaways remain open."

PC Finlay said that although eating could help counter the affects of alcohol, officers still believed that barring troublemakers from takeaways would reduce violence.

He added:"Our experience with Bar U, our scheme with the publicans which involves people being banned from all member pubs and bars, is that it works and those who know they are banned, stay away.

"It is a deterrent we think will work."

Blackburn takeaway owners backed the idea.

Saeed Natha, of Oasis kebab shop, Darwen Street, Blackburn, said: "Sometimes we get drunken lads coming in and fighting with each other. They might have been kicked out of the pubs but we can't stop them coming in here. I think a scheme like this would make Blackburn safer at night."

And Abdul Aziz, who runs Tasty Spot kebab shop, Darwen Road, Blackburn, said: "I'd definitely support the scheme. The only time we get problems with drunk people is on the weekends. I think the takeaways around here would have more power if we stuck together."

Tory councillor Paul McGurty said: "Takeaways can be quite intimidating places late at night.

"People need to know they have to behave. This scheme, which people are calling kebabwatch, is good news."

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's executive member for citizen and consumer rights, Frank Connor, said: "The council and its partners aim to encourage better awareness and closer working between all town centre food and licensed premises to promote a safer environment for citizens and visitors to the borough.

"At this stage as we need to look at the effectiveness of such a move."