Lancashire Police say the ban on the St John's Church area of Blackpool will be effective from this weekend and throughout the rest of the year.

Town centre inspector, Stewart Noble, says it is aimed at ridding the churchyard of "drunks."

It is only the third time police on the Fylde have put such a ban in place.

Mr Noble said: "It essentially means that we can move people or groups of people who have begun to congregate in that area.

"Obviously, our prime concern are those people who historically have proven to cause anti-social behaviour to both locals and visitors alike."