A well-known drunkard was freed by magistrates 18 hours after he was arrested - so he could claim his £75 incapacity benefit.

Alan Carter, 58, of no fixed address, was arrested by PC Paul Sullivan - in a stupor, laying on the pavement in Low Street, at the entrance to Keighley Market.

The next morning, sobered up, Carter appeared before magistrates but was released so he could claim his money.

Yesterday chairman of the market trader's association Kathleen Sugden, who is leading a petition campaign for action against the drunks and vagrants, said: "They go to court and then they are let off. What sort of court is that? It's disgusting. It's no good us reporting it to the police and them doing their job and then the magistrates letting them off."

In court the magistrate, Mr David Hanson, said the 18 hours spent in the cells at Keighley police station was a sufficient sentence.

He told him: "It's sad, Mr Carter, that your life revolves around drink to the extent that you drift in and out of a horrendous list of offending.

"There isn't a great deal we can do for you. The matter lies in your hands. No doubt you will be here again, but I wish you could sort yourself out so that wasn't the case."

The market traders are unhappy about the behaviour of drunks and vagrants who congregate at the Low Street entrance to the market. They say the abusive language and unsociable behaviour is alarming the public. Other traders joined Mrs Sugden in her criticism of the sentence. One market stallholder says: "I think it's diabolical. We're doing our bit and the police are doing their bit but the magistrates are just kicking them out."

Another, Andy Hesp, said: "This is why you can't blame the police, because the courts don't do anything. They just don't know what to do."

Chief Superintendent Derek Bonnard of Keighley police says they are doing all they can.

"Sentencing is a matter for the magistrates," he says. "All I can say is that it is important that magistrates support the work of the police in terms of the lengths of the sentences imposed."

PC Sullivan adds: "People have been telling me what's going on, but unfortunately they have been telling me hours or days after the event."

A spokesman for Bradford council markets says: "We do move on undesirables when we can, but this is not always possible without assistance.

We continue to liaise with other agencies, especially the police, over ways of tackling the problem."