ON-THE-SPOT fines were handed out to 19 drunken louts in Bolton during a summer crackdown on alcohol related Crime.

Police officers used new powers to hand out the fixed penalty notices for rowdy and disorderly behaviour.

The fixed penalties of £40 or £80, depending on the severity of the offence, were issued for a range of offences including drunk and disorderly behaviour, drinking in designated restricted areas and public order offences.

They could only be issued with the offenders' consent and if they refused, they were then arrested.

Throughout August, Bolton took part in the national alcohol enforcement campaign, which was spearheaded by the Home Office.

It enabled the police and its partners to demonstrate to other forces the robust system which is already in place in the town for tackling alcohol disorder and irresponsible management of licensed premises.

On-the-spot checks were carried out on nine licensed premises using underage children to buy alcohol and four failed to comply with the law.

They have been warned about their behaviour and will be visited again in the future.

In terms of off-licences, police visited 35 premises and a further 27 checks were made by the Community Protection Unit. Twenty-seven test purchases were made using under-age children and more than half were caught serving alcohol to young people.

Sixteen people had cans and bottles confiscated by officers and a total of 35 people were arrested for public order offences.

Chief Insp Pat McKelvey from Bolton Police said: "The fixed penalties are just another tool to help the police cut down on bureaucracy and enable us to tackle anti-social and rowdy behaviour.

"On a busy Friday and Saturday night, officers are able to deal quickly with people who are caught committing public disorder offences. We are cracking down on drunken thugs and bad pubs."

Cathy Savage from the Bolton Town Centre Company said: "We now have an evening economy manager and two evening ambassadors who are helping to encourage good behaviour.

"Working in partnership with the police, the council, the Crime and Disorder Partnership and others, we are hoping to take the scheme a step further."