EARBY'S alcohol control zone is set to start this weekend after the final piece of a legal jigsaw was put in place.

After publicising the move and consulting the public, the only thing left to do was put up warning signs in the town.

They were erected yesterday (Thursday) and now police officers will be able to take drink off anyone they consider to be causing a problem in the street over the bank holiday weekend.

Drinking in the zone, which covers most of the town from West Craven Business Park to the Northholme estate and Sough Park, will not be an offence in itself.

However, anyone refusing to hand over alcohol when asked to do so by the police could face a fine of £500.

The measure was proposed after the success of a similar scheme in Barnoldswick, which is said to have greatly reduced drink-related anti-social behaviour.

The idea received no objections during public consultations and it is hoped that, along with an increase in officers, it will help to reduce recent nuisance problems in Earby.

West Craven area sergeant Andy Cartwright said that the new powers would serve as an invaluable policing tool for his officers.

He said: "Obviously, now it's in place we'll enforce it.

"The spirit of the legislation is for the police to be able to tackle anti-social behaviour as early as possible in an evening and take away the cause of the problem, rather than reacting to it.

"It will also be used so the police can actively target groups of people who are known to be involved in anti-social behaviour and crime."

Sgt Cartwright was keen to point out that the zone would not affect private outdoor space, such as beer gardens, and would not affect someone enjoying a quiet glass of wine with a picnic.

"It's common-sense legislation," he said. "It's a discretionary power to be used where we believe people drinking in the street are known to or likely to cause problems to others.

"It's all about community co-operation and I would ask that people co-operate if they are asked to stop drinking."

He added: "It will help support us in our aim to make Earby a safer and more pleasant place to live and to socialise in. I think this legislation will go a long way to improving the quality of life in the area as it has done in Barnoldswick."

Earby ward councillor Chris Tennant agreed.

He said that as far as he was aware, the biggest source of complaints in the town stemmed from youngsters drinking in the waterfalls area and "waking the whole town up" on their way home in the early hours.

He said: "It's come at the right time.

"I don't honestly think we're going to have that much bother but for the very small minority of people who cause the nuisance it will be a very effective deterrent.

"It's a discretionary power so it won't make a difference for the rest of the community."