A BOOZE ban on the streets of a Gwent town should be in force by next month say council chiefs.

Community safety bosses at Torfaen council say they have received strong backing for an alcohol ban on the streets of Blaenavon from residents and business owners.

Police and the county borough's Community Safety Partnership say young drinkers hanging around Blaenavon's streets are the primary cause of a wave of vandalism and anti-social behaviour which has dogged the town throughout the last year.

Now it's understood the legal paperwork is almost in place and a council spokesman told the Argus the street drinking ban should start in September.

The powers come under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, and mean a person found drinking in Blaenavon town centre can have their alcohol confiscated.

If they refuse they can be arrested and face a £500 fine.

The ban would cover Broad Street, High Street, Market Street, Park Street and part of Church Road at the bottom of the town, and a section of King Street at the top of the town.

Torfaen council's member for Blaenavon Stuart Evans said: "All too often young people are buying alcohol and drinking it in the street which results in problems for the community.

"We need something to stamp that out before it gets any worse. We are trying to raise the profile of the town and that is being destroyed by problems with anti-social behaviour."

Following meetings between police, traders and local councillors, shop owners are also hopeful CCTV will be set up in the town as an extra measure against anti-social behaviour.

At the end of last year bookshop owners were said to be considering their future in the town after their shops were targeted by window-smashing vandals.