REVELLERS who indulge in a little too much Christmas spirit can expect an abrupt end to their celebrations in one North Yorkshire market town.

Advances in technology mean an informal pub watch network run by Richmond's landlords for a number of years is now more effective than ever.

Until recently, landlords had relied on the phone to alert each other to troublemakers, drunks and under-aged drinkers in the town.

However, the advance of telecommunications technology means pagers now work in Richmond, where poor signals had always caused problems in the past.

As a result, police and the local licensed victuallers association have joined forces with Vodafone to co-ordinate a new, early-warning system linking Richmond, Catterick Garrison and Colburn.

Messages can now be relayed around a chain of almost 30 pubs in a matter of seconds.

Yesterday, publicans made it clear anyone bent on causing trouble will not be welcome in the town.

"The old ring-round system didn't really work," said chairman of the Richmond Licensed Victuallers' Association, Steve Moss, of the Turf Hotel. The message may get through to one person but, if they were busy, it may be some time before they passed it on."

However, the new pagers issued to the publicans are portable with messages passed to everyone on the network at the same time.

"People may think we can use it is just for dealing with drunks, but that is not the case," said Richmondshire's licensing officer, Sergeant Andrew Nursey.

"It can also alert publicans if anyone is using forged bank notes. We have also had a number of cases recently when people have stayed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation and then left without paying."

The closed-circuit television network can also be alerted to problems reported by landlords, while police are working with the publicans on the introduction of blanket exclusion orders for persistent troublemakers.

All licensed premises - including off-licences, hotels, sports clubs and working men's clubs - are welcome to join the network.

More information is available from Sgt Nursey, who can be contacted on (01609) 789321