A town centre drinking ban has proved a phenomenal success - with no alcohol-related problems recorded during one of the busiest nights of the year.

The two-hour cool-off period on Christmas Eve was introduced in Colchester for the first time last year when just one pub-related problem was reported.

But this year, the venture went one better and notched up a 100 per cent success rate, with no incidents at all.

The 5pm-7pm pub closure was also scheduled for New Year's Eve, to dissuade revellers from drinking all day.

Almost all pubs in Colchester take part in the scheme which was introduced through Pub-Link - a group of pubs and nightspots which have joined forces via a two-way radio system to help cut down on public order offences.

PC Lee Bowen, the man behind the Pub-Link scheme, said he was very pleased with this year's results.

He added: "It was very successful. We had no incidents related to licensed premises recorded at all between the 5pm and 7pm period and only two later that night."

"Considering it was Christmas Eve, that is a really good result."

Neighbouring Ipswich has long pioneered the shut-up-shop tactic with considerable success and it was hoped the good results would be mirrored again in Colchester On New Year's Eve.

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