A CAMPAIGN to ban town centre street drinking has been hailed a success -- but police have warned there is still work to be done.

The Crystal Clear campaign was brought into force in Accrington in July last year -- and has cut glass and bottle-related incidents of violence by more than 50 per cent.

The on-street drinking ban, similar to schemes in Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley, was introduced after Hyndburn Council passed legislation giving the police powers to arrest anyone refusing to hand over open bottles, or cans, of alcohol in the town.

Figures for the 12 months to the end of June reveal there were 10 bottle and glass-related incidents -- down from 24 the previous year.

And incidents of violent crime in the town centre fell from 206 to 163 over the same period.

Sgt Mark Porter, Accrington's town centre officer, said although other schemes had helped achieve the reductions -- including the door supervisor scheme and Pubwatch -- the results highlighted a success for Crystal Clear.

"All the schemes have contributed to this, but Crystal Clear has obviously had a very big impact in relation to glass and bottle-related crime in particular," he said.

"But I'm still aware of other problems which people bring to my attention, such as bottles being dumped in alleyways.

"So there's obviously evidence of people drinking in the streets, but we have to remember the main thrust of the campaign was to reduce bottle and glass-related crime which we have done."

The campaign had a boost with the recent introduction of two new town centre officers, he said.

"We are still getting a very positive response on the whole from members of the public. We still have a small problem with people drinking during the day in places like church yards, and the skateboard park by Scaitcliffe House."

Although licensees and members of the public had inquired about extending the scheme to other parts of Hyndburn, Sgt Porter said there were no immediate plans to do so.

"We have to be realistic about the practicalities of enforcing the legislation and the responsibilities licensees would have in supporting it.

"At the moment we are not saying it will never happen.

"But there's a long process of fact-finding and looking at whether the legislation is actually needed in other parts of the borough."