THE CLOCK is ticking for booze fuelled anti-social behaviour louts as there are just weeks left before a total ban on boozing on the streets of Wilmslow and Handforth.

A plan to introduce no drinking zones has been rubber stamped by Macclesfield Borough Council after working closely with the Wilmslow Community Action Team.

This gives police sweeping new powers to confiscate booze from people they see drinking in the open within these zones.

The licensing committee gave the scheme the thumbs up in November, but the final go ahead was delayed until they could agree a clearly defined area with police.

Now they are confident they have got it right and their map covers every park, footbridge, alleyway and estate in the area where on-street boozing has been a problem.

PC Andy Murray, Wilmslow town centre officer, said he was happy that the exclusion zones they had drawn up were correct.

"We worked with all the local beat officers who have got a knowledge of all the problem areas, and those that may not have a problem at present, but have done historically."

The no drinking zones run from Finney Green down to Fulshaw Park in Wilmslow and from Stanley Green down the A34 to Hall Road and Colshaw Farm in Handforth.

Councillor Barry Burkhill said: "We felt it was better to ring around the whole area so there is no ambiguity and police are not running around from one area to another trying to round people up."

The borough council used its power under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 after they were satisfied that crime statistics proved there was a drink related anti social behaviour problem in the area.

It is not an offence to drink alcohol in these zones, however anyone caught must comply with a police request to stop drinking and hand over any booze in their possession, or they could face arrest.

The scheme has won support from the public, notably residents living on and around Princess Road, Wilmslow, who signed a petition to ban drinking in the park near their homes.

Now that the scheme has been given the thumbs up from the borough council, there will be a consultation period of at least 28 days before a date can be set for the new zones to come into force.