Drinkers causing trouble on the streets of Bingley face being arrested, under new laws coming into effect on Monday.

The scheme, approved by Bradford Council yesterday, will enable police to ask people to stop drinking and take opened drinks from them. Anyone who refuses will be arrested and fined up to £500.

The move follows a successful pilot run in Bradford city centre and could be introduced in Shipley and Keighley next. The Council is using the new Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, giving it power to designate orders in certain areas.

At a meeting of the Council's regulatory and appeals committee yesterday, director of policy Alan Dalton said the city centre scheme was "extremely successful" and welcomed by police.

"It has reduced the problem of anti-social behaviour considerably," he said.

Mr Dalton said the order does not ban drinking outside, but gives police power to deal with any trouble caused by drinking. "We're trying to adopt a more continental approach in Bradford and want Centenary Square to continue as a venue in that respect. This order tackles any anti-social activity that takes place after drinking," he said.

Committee chairman, Councillor Andrew Smith, said: "It's like the pub landlord saying to his customer: 'Sorry sir, I'm not serving you anymore, I think you've had enough.' The police will have the power to say: 'I'm taking this drink away from you before you cause any more trouble'."

Mr Dalton said during a consultation by the Council with Bingley residents, traders, businesses, police and the town centre manager, concerns were raised that businesses had been adversely affected by anti-social drinking. The consultation was used to draw up designated areas where problems have occurred.

After the meeting Eileen Sinclair, a member of Bingley Town Centre Partnership, said: "I very much welcome it. Anything that stops people from behaving badly on the streets has to be a good thing. "

Martin Carr, president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, which covers Bingley, said: "I don't think drinking should take place anywhere other than on licensed premises."

The designated Bingley town centre area where the order will take effect is land bounded by (and including):

Junction Main Street and Old Main Street; Main Street; Dryden Street; Market Street; alleyway running from Market Street towards Queen Street; Airedale Street; Myrtle Place; Main Street becoming Bradford Road (until Healey Lane); Healey Lane; Leonard Street; Ferncliffe Road (from Leonard Street); Chapel Walk; Midland Hill (until Waterloo Road); Waterloo Road; Park Road (between Waterloo Road and Busfield Street); Busfield Street; Queen Street; Queens Court; Foundry Hill; Wellington Street; Burrage Street; Myrtle Walk; Chapel Lane; Victory Street; Victoria Street; Robertshaw Place; York Street; Cannon Street; York Crescent; Portland Place; Bingley Station platform and station forecourt.