A new order banning people from drinking in the centre of Wantage should be in place by the autumn.

Wantage Town Council has applied to the Vale of White Horse District Council for the order to replace a bylaw introduced in 2000 which prevents people from drinking in the town centre, but which will no longer be valid from 2006 due to new legislation.

The district council's personnel, regulatory and appeals committee approved the order and a town council request to extend the area covered to include more of Mill Street and two footpaths leading from the town centre.

David Quayle, monitoring officer, said the order should be in place by the autumn, after it had been advertised and statutory consultation had been carried out.

The order will be enforced by the police, who can require people to hand over opened bottle or cans of alcohol. People who are convicted of failing to comply with the police could face fines of up to £500.

Town councillor Bryan Armitage said there was strong support from shopkeepers and landowners for the move to ensure the alcohol ban was maintained.

Mr Armitage added: "In the past the presence of the by-aw has acted as a deterrent. It is quite distressing for people to be intimidated by people who are drinking and it's not so much the drinking itself as what it leads to."