A DALES town council has decided it will not be giving up on an attempt to introduce a bylaw, banning the consumption of alcohol in parts of the community's market square.

The move was inspired by a single vagrant, who has made Leyburn's market shelter his daytime haunt - which the local authority is convinced deters others from using it.

However, the town council insists there are others whose anti-social behaviour can make a walk across the town centre less than enjoyable, and another attempt is to be made to persuade the district authority to support the new regulations.

Leyburn's Wendy Morton, elected to Richmondshire District Council in October, has until February to find seven colleagues willing to support the bylaw.

If she succeeds, a full meeting of the district authority will have to reconsider the application it rejected on December 11.

Councillor Morton said: "It would be wrong to say the new bylaw would only be introduced to deal with one particular person. It would prevent anyone from drinking around the market cross or the war memorial - and there are others who do at the moment.''

She has been studying the correct procedures and has promised to begin her hunt for allies after Christmas.

"I think we should be backing Leyburn Town Council on this matter," she said. "I will be doing everything I can to whip up support in the New Year.