A STREET drinking ban in the centres of Clitheroe, Longridge and Whalley comes into force today.

Ribble Valley councillors gave the ban the go-ahead earlier this year after hearing drunken youths were making a nuisance of themselves.

Shopkeepers had complained of having to sweep up broken glass from discarded bottles outside their premises every morning.

The ban has the backing of Clitheroe Police, the Ribble Valley Licensed Victuallers' Association and Clitheroe Chamber of Commerce.

Ribble Valley Council director of legal services Paul Timson said: "The order has been made under the Criminal Justice and Police Act and gives police the power to stop people drinking in designated places and, if necessary, seize their alcohol."

The ban applies to Clitheroe town centre, the grounds of Clitheroe Castle, the Mitchell Street car park and children's play areas in Park Street, Chester Avenue and Highfield Road. The centre of Longridge and the town's Mardale Recreation Ground and John Smith Playing Fields are also out of bounds to drinkers, as well as the centre of Whalley.

Anyone refusing to comply with the ban in those areas and stopped by police could be prosecuted and fined up to £500.

A ban on drinking in Sabden, Read and Simonstone -- the first in Lancashire and possibly the UK on small villages -- could be running by Spring.