THE streets of Little Hulton and Walkden have become drink-free zones in a bid to slash booze-fuelled crime.

Anyone caught drinking in public faces a fine or arrest if they refuse to hand over alcohol when asked to do so.

The areas are among hot-spots across the city of Salford which are covered by the blanket ban on open air drinking.

Councillors hope the new powers will help to reduce anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime.

Little Hulton councillor Alice Smyth said: "This has been needed in Little Hulton and other parts of Salford for a long time.

"We don't want to come down too hard on kids, but the minority who get drunk and cause problems need to be dealt with.

"There are also a number of adults who need to be stopped from drinking in public and the success of this scheme now depends on how well it is enforced by the police."