PLANS are being drawn up to ban the drinking of alcohol on Thirsk streets.

Regular complaints are received about under-age drinkers and the problems they cause in the town.

North Yorkshire Police also hold blitzes where officers take alcohol off drinkers who are under age.

But PC Duncan Pears wants to bring in a complete ban on anyone drinking alcohol on certain streets.

He said: "There is evidence to suggest that we have an under-age drinking problem and I would like to work towards a street drinking ban.

"The problem is those who are under-age are with people legally old enough to buy alcohol and they pass a bottle round the group.

"The ban means that if people don't stop drinking when we ask them to then we have the power to arrest them."

Streets to be covered include Kirkgate, Millgate, the Market Place, Westgate, Marage Road, Castlegarth and the Flatts.

Thirsk town councillor Roger Mallett said: "I would like more details about it before they imposed one.

"We have got the problem of under-age drinking, but whether we really want to make Thirsk a no-drinking area is debatable."

PC Pears is to consult with bodies including Hambleton District Council about creating an order.

A district council spokes-man said: "It would go to the council's Community Safety Partnership. But the council would need to see evidence of a problem and that a drinking order was needed."