A VAGRANT who has made a bus shelter his daytime haunt could soon be given his marching orders.

Richmondshire District Council has agreed to work towards the introduction of a by-law which would ban drinking in some areas of Leyburn Market Place.

The police would then have the power to move or arrest anyone found consuming alcohol.

The move follows a request from Leyburn Town Council, which claims the presence of the vagrant has been deterring others from using the shelter.

Councillor Richard Good warned Richmondshire's resources committee that introducing a by-law to deal with the issue would be like "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut".

He said: "Why go to this extreme when it may be this individual will move on of his own accord in a few weeks' time?"

But the council's solicitor, Margaret Barry, said legal advisors would take that into account before deciding if a by-law was appropriate.

The committee voted to approve further research into the proposal - as long as Leyburn council foots the bill.