A BAN on drinking alcohol could be introduced in the market place of a Dales town to give the police the power to deal with a vagrant who has made a bus shelter his daily haunt.

Leyburn Town Council claims his presence is deterring others from using the facilities and wants him moved on.

However, as he is not breaking any law, there is little that can be done - unless new legislation is introduced to deal with the situation.

At a meeting at the town's Thornborough Hall next week, Richmondshire District Council will be asked to consider using its powers to introduce a by-law preventing the consumption of alcohol in areas of the market place.

A letter from the town council, to be tabled on Tuesday, points out the vagrant is a daily problem.

It continues: "He drinks alcohol throughout the day, and his dirty and drunken appearance deters many people from using the shelter whilewaiting for buses and eating their lunch.

"Our only solutions are to have gates fitted on the shelter so that it can be closed up indefinitely and then reopened to the public once he has moved on from this area. This is in hand and the gates will be fitted soon.

"We also wish to bring in a ban on alcohol consumption in that central area so that he cannot sit on the war memorial as an alternative to the shelter."

The authority to introduce by-laws was given to local authorities by the Home Office under a new Criminal Justice and Police Act, which came into force on September 1.

However, it does not apply to parish or town councils, which means Leyburn needs the district authority's backing for its proposals.

The Richmondshire authority's legal team are making no recommendation, other than that the suggestion be considered.

However, councillors who vote on the issue on Tuesday will be warned further consultation may be necessary, which could cost the district council money - and, if so, it is likely the bill will be passed to Leyburn Town Council.