There is a fine dividing line between drinking alcohol in the street as part of the sort of pavement-caf culture that Bradford seeks to encourage in the summer, and being drunk in the street. Those who cross it can at the very least cause embarrassment to passers-by. Some can be an offensive nuisance while others can resort to acts of vandalism and violence.

It was because of the extremes of behaviour caused by drink that Bradford Council and the police decided to adopt measures available to them under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and made the city-centre a no-go area for drunken yobs.

That pilot scheme has proved so successful with the rest of the community and with the commercial sector that it has now been decided to extend the measures to Bingley - a move which will no doubt please the people of that pub-rich town who have to put up with quite a lot of unruly behaviour from drinkers, largely young people.

Shopkeepers particularly have had to endure damage to their premises which has led to higher insurance premiums. Putting a stop to that will surely be worth any restrictions on the freedom of individuals to swig from bottles in the street.

Councillor Margaret Eaton says the aim is to make people feel comfortable when they are in the district by reducing the risk of them being harassed by anti-social trouble-makers. That is a laudable aim. Bingley has a bright new future once the relief road opens. Drunken yobs should not be allowed to tarnish its image.