Call to bring in street drinking ban across entire Wolverhampton city centre

And in a new twist a third of people asked said the ban should be extended across the entire city.

Tough new police powers are already in the pipeline which could see a ban on drinking alcohol in the streets in the St Peter's and Park wards, which covers the city centre, to try to slash anti-social behaviour.

In a consultation on the move, more than 80 per cent of people who responded supported the move, with just five per cent against. Now it has emerged a third said the ban should cover all city streets.

The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would see police given the power to seize alcohol from people and make them stop drinking where anti-social behaviour is happening or likely to happen.

If approved, the order would be brought into force from April 6 and could see 'an outright street drinking ban in St Peter's and Park wards' which takes in the city centre including busy streets like Dudley Street and Broad Street.

In the public consultation, a quarter of respondents wanted assurance that there would be enough officers available to enforce the ban if it were to go ahead, and there were also concerns raised that it may push drinkers into parks and canal areas where they cannot be located.

Councillor Claire Darke, who represents Park ward, believes the new rules could help make the city a more welcoming environment, but believes more needs to be done to tackle the wider drinking culture.

She said: "I can understand why people have taken that stance. We have had a number of problems in Park ward and St Peter's. It always bubbles over in the summer when people are out drinking in the sun.

"The larger picture is that we need to do more about this drinking culture in our country."

The consultation closes on February 17 and the plans are expected to be approved at a cabinet meeting on February 22.