A booze ban to stamp out underage drinking in parts of Oswestry could soon be introduced amid fears it is causing a “serious” anti-social behaviour problem.

Police powers could be extended in the move to allow them to clamp down on people drinking in designated public places in parishes in the borough.

It would mean police could stop people drinking in certain areas and they would commit an offence if they continued to drink once an officer has asked them not to.

Proposals are in place to extend police powers across Selattyn and Gobowen, Weston Rhyn and St Martins parishes. Councillors at Tuesday’s Oswestry Borough Council meeting are being asked to adopt the order.

Selattyn and Gobowen parish clerk John Ward said the parish had called for the order to be introduced in previous years and is encouraging the borough to endorse the scheme.He said: “We have a serious problem of underage drinking in Gobowen, in particular the recreation field.

“In nicer weather, youngsters, some of whom are very young teenagers, congregate in the field and drink large amounts of alcohol.”

He said the main concern was for the residents who had to put up with booze-fuelled antics on their doorsteps.

Mr Ward added: “Sometimes the teenagers stay in the park all night drinking, leaving around 6am to go home. They even call local takeaways to deliver food to them. It’s up to us then to clean up all their litter on the field.”

And in Weston Rhyn, parish clerk Roger Dyke said the village’s recreation ground, the grounds around the village institute, Chirk Bank play area and St John’s churchyard and cemetery would be put forward to be included in the order.

He said these areas had seen long-standing problems of underage drinkers causing a “nuisance.”

A booze ban in St Martins parish would include the memorial gardens, churchyard and the play area behind St Martins centre.

Oswestry Borough Council is being asked to approve the scheme in principle but a public consultation has to be carried out before the order is made.

By Antonia Merola