AN alcohol-free zone could be created in two neighbouring villages where anti-social drunken behaviour has increased in recent months.

Following a recommendation by a joint police/council anti-social behaviour group, drinking in public may soon be banned in non-licensed areas of Sherburn Village and Ludworth, near Durham.

The city council cabinet has agreed to begin the procedure to press for alcohol restrictions in the two villages, to the east of Durham, and will stage a consultation exercise.

Should it receive a favourable response the council must apply for restrictions to be agreed by the Home Office.

Local beat bobby PC Steve Barrow, said the call for alcohol-free designation follows a rise in problems caused by youths drinking in public.

"Over a six-month period, from January to July, anti-social behaviour disorder and alcohol-related abuse increased by 75 per cent in Sherburn Village and also increased significantly in Ludworth.

"For the last three months police officers, sometimes working in plain clothes, have been busy collecting and gathering evidence as part of operation 'Inchote'.

"It has included taking pictures of groups of sites where youngsters have been drinking and dumping bottles.

"We've also been busy seizing alcohol from those underage and there have been arrests following allegations of public order problems."

PC Barrow said problems have been caused by a group of about 20 youths in Sherburn Village and around a dozen in Ludworth, swelled by others from surrounding villages.

"By and large they are in their mid-teens, from 14 to 16, and they are involved in a variety of disorder, including running in front of cars, in Front Street, in Sherburn Village, abusing shop staff if they are refused alcohol, and causing a general disturbance into the early hours.

"Tower hill in Ludworth is a place where they tend to congregate and cause problems, but under the terms of an alcohol-free zone it will prevent them from drinking in public places, or run the risk of falling foul of the law."

The two villages would be the first in the Durham area to have such powers imposed, which would permit police to confiscate and dispose of liquor in designated areas.