Drunks who cause trouble at off-licences face lifetime bans from some shops in Brighton.

The crackdown has been introduced in the St James's Street area of Brighton.

Seven off-licencees have launched a telephone ring-round system to alert each other when a troublemaker is trying to buy alcohol.

If they are refused in one, the six others are telephoned with descriptions and details and they too refuse to serve him or her. If their behaviour is bad enough, the ban will stay indefinitely.

The crackdown is being backed by Brighton police.

PC Richard Hamlin, community beat officer for the area, came up with the ring-round idea.

"There is a lot of alcohol-related crime in St James's Street and we have a close working relationship with the off-licencees," he said.

Safeway's supermarket, Alldays, Convenience Corner and Unwins are among shops taking part in the scheme.

Tom Mannouch has been running Thresher's off-licence in St James's street for ten years.

He said the area had improved in recent years but there was more work to do.

Mr Mannouch said the community was especially concerned with a recent spate of anti-gay attacks in the area.