ANY right-thinking person will be appalled at times by the sheer number of miscreants, often in drink or using drugs, who commonly congregate in some areas of Bradford city centre - in some cases aggressively begging.

Hundreds of millions of pounds, through either public or private investment, has recently been ploughed into Bradford to create attractions like the much-praised City Park and the Broadway shopping centre which give people extra reasons to visit.

TOUGH NEW POWERS TO TACKLE NUISANCE DRINKERS AND 'LEGAL HIGH' YOBS IN CITY CENTRE

But the presence of these troublemakers has a hugely damaging impact on the drive to create a vibrant city centre as it is all too easy to imagine some visitors simply spinning on their heels vowing never to come back after such encounters.

And, sadly, it is not a new problem.

Bradford Chamber of Trade reports that it has existed for several years - despite the combined effort of the council and the police to bring solutions.

And even earlier this week this newspaper was highlighting how problem drinkers and drug users were blighting business for traders in Rawson Road, near to the Oastler Shopping Centre.

Council chiefs now want to make the worst-affected areas Public Space Protection Orders which will give police and wardens officers added powers to intervene and confiscate alcohol or legal highs from people using them.

It is imperative that the local authority and the police use whatever legislation they can get to successfully tackle these undesirables who, quite simply, don't know how to behave in public.

The city's regeneration is far too important to be derailed by the likes of them.