Bradford drunks who are sick in public places could be sent back the following morning with accompanying hangover to clean up their own mess.

Home Secretary John Reid told delegates at the Labour Party Conference he wanted to replace fixed-penalty fines for minor offences in some cases with "community pay- back orders'' to make those responsible for small-scale anti-social behaviour to put the damage right rather than pay a small fine.

He said the Government was considering the new scheme where instead of fixed-penalty fines police could issue community payback orders in the same way that community service is an alternative to prison.

People would be forced to put back something into society to make up for their crimes - for example making someone who urinated or was sick in a public place clean up the area the next day.

The idea has received broad support in Bradford from people who are used to seeing the aftermath of drunken antics.

City Centre Inspector Steve Baker, of Bradford South Police, said: "I think it will work.

"If people who are being sick in our city are made to come back the following day it will make them think twice about doing it again.

"It will also be quite embarrassing for them to clean it up in front of the public the next day. It will send out a clear message and act as a deterrent."

City Centre Wardens Manager Steve Longbottom said: "As a broad principle, I think it's a good move.

"It's about people who are sick on the street corner at 2am being made to come back at 9am to face the consequences of what they have done.

"It's part of the restorative justice push from the Government."

He said it would be up to the police to enforce any new laws but added that wardens would act as "eyes and ears" to tip off police.

Val Summerscales, of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: "It's not nice for businesses to see the after-effects of a good night out and it has an adverse impact on the appearance of the city centre.

"It's good news if they are making people more responsible for what they have done."

Mohammed Rashid, a Hackney Carriage driver in Bradford, said: "It's a good idea. If they make a mess they should have to clean it up. We see it a lot from drunks on the streets."

But David Haigh, president of Bradford Inner-City Licensees Association, dismissed the plans as "another piece of spin" from the Government.

He said: "It won't work. Who is going to police it? The police will be running around all over the place and they will only catch the ones they see or the ones they want to see.

"In the last couple of years, the Government has done nothing but persecute the licensing trade. If they want to stop people drinking, they should make it illegal."

Ministers will consider the move as part of a wide-scale law and order drive later this year.

e-mail: newsdesk@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

WHAT YOU SAY

Jack Pyrah of Dudley Hill: "It's a good idea. They should also be made to pay a charge for the privilege of cleaning it up. It's ridiculous to be sick in the street."

Anne Alphonse of Heaton: "It's not nice if you're walking down the street and step in someone's sick. They should be responsible for their own actions."

Luke Bowers of Wrose: "People who are caught being sick in the street should be locked up and put in the cells. I agree 100 per cent with making them clean it up."

Margaret Slowther of Heaton: "I totally agree with the idea. If it stops people being sick in the street, it's got to be good news."

Laura Doherty, of Thorpe Edge: "People should be made to clean it up and should be given a fine as well. I feel uncomfortable when I see people being sick in the street."

Jessica Loftus, of Keighley : "I don't think it's fair. It's not pretty to see but people sometimes have a bit too much to drink and can't help being sick."