STREET boozers on a Swindon estate could soon have their drink taken off them by police.

Residents of Park South have complained that groups of people buy alcohol and then sit in Cavendish Square during the day intimidating shoppers.

Now an alcohol controlled zone, similar to one already in force in the town centre, could be extended into Park South. It means police can confiscate alcohol from drinkers and simply tip it down the drain.

Swindon Council licensing officer Lionel Starling said: "There seems to be a group of people, some of whom are dependant on alcohol, buying drink from the shops in Cavendish Square and then sitting out drinking it.

"A lot of the retailers and residents have complained that they find this very intimidating, especially for older people trying to get their shopping done."

Insp Simon Dicks said: "There is a very clear link between alcohol and anti-social behaviour, so we hope that by banning drinking on the street we can cut the anti-social behaviour that is making life miserable for residents.

"This will give police the power to confiscate any alcohol that they see people drinking and pour it down the drain, which gives us an immediate and effective response without a lot of bureaucracy."

The move comes days after Swindon trading standards revealed that four out of eight shops served drink to underage volunteers in a sting operation to test whether traders were asking for ID.