Rowdy street drinking will be banned in parts of three seaside towns after a 14 per cent rise in crime.

Councillors in Lewes district unanimously agreed on Wednesday to target antisocial drinkers after it was announced there were 914 more offences in the area than last year.

As part of the crackdown the council will introduce public drinking bans in Newhaven and Seaford town centres and parts of Peacehaven as well as other areas.

The bans look set to be brought in by the summer to reduce drunken bad behaviour.

The decision was made after violent crime offences rose by 392 and criminal damage offences by 429.

Newhaven, Lewes and Seaford are where the crimes were concentrated.

The wards affected by the ban will include Newhaven, Denton and Meeching, Newhaven Valley, Seaford Central, Seaford South, Peacehaven North, Peacehaven West and East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs.

Chief Inspector Robert Gough, Lewes district police commander, said many offences were linked to alcohol use.

He said police will exercise their powers with discretion.

Under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, officers can stop stop people drinking alcohol in a ban zone and require them to surrender their drink.

Failure to abide by police requests could lead to a maximum fine of £500.

Referring to the rise in violent crime and criminal damage, Mr Gough said: "The Crime Reduction Partnership has requested a street drinking ban in the areas to reduce public disorder and make our town centres safer.

"I emphasise the powers given to the police are discretionary and will only be used to target public disorder and nuisance."

Consultation has shown people are in favour of the scheme and want additional areas to be included.

However, rather than delay introducing the order, councillors were told further areas could be designated at a later stage.

But there are concerns drinkers will move to other areas not covered by the ban.

Seaford South Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Brown said: "The best thing will be to see how it works and take action from there.

"If we are finding street drinkers are defecting to other parts then we will examine whether to introduce the ban in those areas."

A Lewes District Council spokeswoman said: "The general consensus was this was a step that needed to be taken.

"There are specific areas affected by street drinking and the aim through introducing this proposal is to ensure it is cut down."