COUNCILLORS last night agreed to ban drinking in public in a County Durham village.

Residents in Dipton, near Stanley, have been terrorised by groups of youths congregating on street corners, drinking alcohol and becoming unruly.

Durham Police asked licensing authority Derwentside District Council to impose the prohibition, which means anyone caught drinking on the street can be arrested.

Council leader Alex Watson said: "This is an area that is quite notorious for anti-social behaviour attributed to alcohol.

"The police are keen to stamp it out. This is a pilot scheme and if it proves to be successful, no doubt other communities will be keen to have the prohibition in their areas.

"Anyone caught drinking outside will be arrested immediately."

Mr Watson said he did not blame local off-licences for the problem but said people were drinking contraband alcohol that had been brought into the country illegally.

He said: "There are some laws that exist to prevent under-age drinking but they are not strong enough. Now drinking outside will be a greater offence.

"It is important to the police and residents who have been having a nightmare and experiencing rowdiness in the street outside their homes because of alcohol."

Residents have also had problems with youths riding off-road motorbikes near their homes.

As well as the measures, communal rooms have been made available four times a week and are used by up to 30 youngsters for games such as pool, table tennis and cards.