Councillors have taken steps to adopt a street-drinking ban in Eastbourne town centre.

The decision was taken at a council meeting on Wednesday night.

Councillors had been expected to drop the planned bylaw, which would give police power to stop anyone from drinking in parks, shopping centres and benches in the town centre.

But councillors decided to follow Hastings' lead and introduce the drinking ban, although it will not be adopted straight away.

Graham Marsden, leader of the council, said: "We strongly believe that while a range of measures need to be used to reduce antisocial behaviour, a bylaw imposing restrictions on alcohol consumption should be one of those measures."

A Town Centre Action Group has recently been set up and will consider the problem of antisocial behaviour.

When the bylaw is introduced it is hoped it will cut under-age drinking, alcohol-related violence and public drunkenness.

Mr Marsden said: "The action group will consider the appropriate area to be included within the scope of the prohibition and will also work with local partners to identify other techniques to address the wider issues of drunkeness in the town centre.

"Once the bylaw comes into effect the council will fully support measures taken to enforce it."

*A story we published yesterday was incorrect and we would like to apologise for the error.