Police and councillors are pushing for a ban on alcohol in Brighouse town centre's streets.

In a by-law similar to one already in place in Bradford and Halifax, they want it to become illegal to drink alcohol in the street or outside pubs and clubs.

Inspector Peter Brennand, the Brighouse area police commander, said: "Busy town centres like Brighouse need this because it can get bad at night times with people walking from pub to pub with drinks.

"We have got to prove that a ban would help stop the problem which we can do using statistics of disorder in the town centre and using observations from licensees. We could also get letters and complaints from people affected by the problem."

He said the ban would have to cover specific streets in the town centre.

"We couldn't issue a ban over the whole of Brighouse, but where the problem is at its worst," he said. "I am very optimistic about this because we have already implemented it in Halifax and the wheels are in motion to introduce it in Brighouse."

He said even sitting drinking at a table outside a pub in the street was illegal as it was not being done on licensed premises.

He said that if the new by-law was implemented, the police could stop someone drinking in the street, seize their open bottle or can or order them to pour it away.

Councillor Colin Stout (Ind, Brighouse) said the area's councillors who had raised the issue with police were hoping to get it listed on the agenda of a forthcoming Calderdale Council Cabinet meeting.

"People are concerned about fighting, vandalism and disorder in the town centre over recent weeks," said Coun Stout.

The image of the town was important for trade, he added.

If pubs wanted a beer garden and had walled areas away from the streets, they should use them as an outdoor drinking area instead.

Coun Stout called for a similar ban to be introduced last year because of teenagers drinking in the streets.