POLICE have seized booze from drunks more than 300 times and made 126 arrests during a crackdown on nuisance drinkers in Bradford's showcase City Park, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal.

In addition, 60 people have been told to leave the area after officers acted in response to complaints from city centre bosses and traders that boozing in public around City Park and the adjoining Centenary Square was harming businesses.

But, despite that, some traders have called for more to be done to tackle the ongoing problem, one described as still rife.

Inspector Andy Gallant, who is in charge of policing the city centre, however, has insisted officers are continuing to take positive action against anyone who involves themselves in anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Arrests have included drunk and disorderly, damage, assault, breach of the peace and other anti-social behaviour.

Insp Gallant said: "We remain committed to tackling issues such as street drinking by working with our partners to identify solutions and making licensees and their staff aware of their responsibilities in the sale of alcohol."

As part of the police's zero-tolerance action, a 42-year-old man arrested for being drunk and disorderly in City Park on October 2 was banned from the city centre for 48 hours and charged to appear before Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court - among others sent packing have included a woman known to become a problem after drinking alcohol; a known alcoholic who becomes aggressive and abusive to the public; and another man who goes shoplifting when drunk.

Tutors at Bradford College's Centenary Hair salon in City Park are among those who say the problem has not getting any better and is ruining a space which should be Bradford's showpiece.

Chris Webster said he was disgusted to see one incident where three men were 'crashed out' on grass near the salon.

He said: "There hasn't been an improvement. You see officers talking to drunks, having a word but it's not stopping them from doing it or just coming back.

"Round here by the Mirror Pool is a fantastic space for people to come and enjoy but the drunks spoil it. It's just ruins it. It's supposed to be Bradford's showpiece not shame piece.

"It's not just drinking that's a problem - it's people urinating as well."

His colleague Dean Lowe said: "It stinks sometimes. They go down the side where there's like a little snicket and urinate. It's awful. It's all still a problem."

Andy Wharton, 41, manager of The In Plaice fish and chip shop in Sunbridge Road, has previously complained how drunks sit in shop doorways and fight outside his business. He claims it has cut his trade by about 25 per cent, despite PCSOs trying to make an effort.

Neighbouring ice cream trader Fiaz Khan also said nothing has changed.

"My takings have gone down this year because of the drunks. It's putting people off from bringing their children here," he said.

"If what the police is doing is working then what can us traders do? The police were going to be stricter but as far as I can see nothing has changed."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's culture portfolio holder, admitted it was not an easy problem to solve.

"We have tens of thousands of people a week coming into City Park, which has become a great events space and city centre attraction," she said.

" Inevitably with that volume of people, you will get a tiny minority being anti-social.

" We work with the police consistently to nip any issues in the bud and in the last few weeks public health workers have now joined the team to divert a small number of people identified as having alcohol problems.

"There is no quick fix, as in any other city, large public spaces need consistent policing and monitoring to keep any issues to a minimum."