CHEAP booze offers have sparked outrage in a town with licensees labelled "irresponsible'' by one police chief.

Concerned at some Middlesbrough town centre pubs selling drink for as little as 50p on a Monday evening and £1 on other nights of the week, Cleveland Police are calling for meetings with licensees.

Inspector Gary Gamesby, in charge of licensing matters in Middlesbrough, said: "The police do not support these initiatives by the licensing trade, and I would echo the comments of Home Office Minister, Bob Ainsworth, who recently described the selling of cheap drinks as irresponsible.

"In the past we have seen how the sale of cheap drink fuels disorder and violence on the streets.

"Police want Middlesbrough to be a safe place for everybody and we would urge all pub landlords to attend."

Inspector Gamesby said people came into the Tees town thinking it was a safe place to drink and enjoy themselves and licensees had a responsibility to help maintain that perception.

"Licensees have a part to play in that, in taking responsibility for what happens inside their premises and immediately outside," the inspector said.

"It drains our resources. We have got to put more policing in the town centre when we would rather be on the housing estates catching burglars.

Middlesbrough Council leader, Councillor Ken Walker said: "I appreciate that licensees have businesses to run and work in a competitive trade, but I am frankly appalled at what appears to be a kind of drinkers' Dutch auction.

"The problems this could cause for the police are self evident." Jim Suggett, Middlesbrough-based president of the Licensed Victuallers Association said: "We are very concerned about this problem.

"We agree with the police on this and together we have to find a way to stop it.

"Our policy is not to sell cheap booze because of the problems it causes.