A NATIONWIDE crackdown on binge-drinking is already having an effect at trouble spots in the North-East.

Last week, police launched a crackdown across 77 cities and districts to curb problem drinking.

Trouble spots in the region which are being targeted include Middlesbrough, Darlington, parts of County Durham, the eastern part of North Yorkshire and Newcastle.

Measures introduced to combat anti-social drinking include £40 fines for people causing a disturbance, and pubs and clubs which cause trouble could be closed for 24 hours.

In the first weekend in Middlesbrough, 15 arrests were made for public order offences, ranging from people being drunk and disorderly to affray and violent disorder.

In addition, there were 38 cases of underage drinkers having alcohol confiscated by officers.

Superintendent Steve Ashman, of Cleveland Police, said: "We would anticipate these figures increasing as we go through July and August.

"We will be taking our usual robust approach to anti-social behaviour and the misuse of alcohol."

He said police would also crack down on pubs and licensees who allowed irresponsible drinking on their premises.

The parts of County Durham covered in the crackdown include Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Crook and Spennymoor.

In North Yorkshire, the campaign started early when police raided a house in Scarborough that was suspected of acting as an illegal pub.

The Home Office is due to release figures and statistics of how the crackdown is progressing over the next few weeks.