Community leaders are joining forces in a bid to cut drunken behaviour on the streets of Shipley.

Members of the Shipley Town Centre Development Partnership agreed unanimously to apply for a by-law banning alcohol consumption in Market Square and places such as Roberts Park in Saltaire.

Chairman Councillor John Carroll (Con, Shipley West) suggested the idea after shoppers and traders complained.

He said: "Shipley is now a very pleasant and safe place to shop which is occasionally marred by people drinking alcohol in the streets and becoming abusive. It is to stop this behaviour that we are proposing to introduce a by-law to ban drinking alcohol in the streets.

"Obviously, if someone wanted to open a cafe bar it would not affect their business and I'm sure the type of people we are trying to move out of Shipley would not be the type of people who would get served, anyway."

Inspector Nigel Cawthorne of Shipley Police backed the plan.

"Alcohol abuse is a problem in the Shipley area due to a growing number of people who drink outside. It is probably due to the fact that drinking in pubs is becoming more and more expensive while cut-prices in supermarkets attract more customers.

"It increases the fear of crime and people are intimidated by those who are drunk and unpredictable. It has been proved that someone drunk is more likely to commit an offence and to become a victim of one."

The decision to apply for the by-law follows the news that town centre bosses are planning a £100,000 revamp of Shipley market.

Chris Pope of The Branch, Shipley, said he never had problems with drunken behaviour outside his pub but supported moves to introduce a by-law curbing drink-related problems.

He said: "I think in view of the investment going into the market we have to make the streets more pleasant to attract tourists."

Mr Pope added Shipley has enough licensed premises where people can drink inside or on outdoor patio areas.

"We have to make sure families will want to come and shop in Shipley," he said.

Local residents will have the chance to give their views on the proposed street drinking ban at neighbourhood forums.