Groups of young people standing around swigging beer and cider from cans and alcopops from bottles could soon be a thing of the past in Marlborough.

The town council agreed on Monday to set up a working party to look into whether the town needs to establish an alcohol-free zone.

Councillors decided against the legislation eight years ago when Devizes became an alcohol-free zone but the matter has come up for discussion again as police look for ways of controlling vandalism in parts of the town, mainly Coopers Meadow and the Priory Gardens.

Sgt Martyn Sweett told the town council that the establishment of an alcohol-free zone in designated parts of the town could help the police and the environment.

He said that drinkers sometimes damaged park benches and left bottles and cans lying around.

He said: "I am not saying we have a massive problem here but we do have a slight problem."

Sgt Sweett said the legislation would not prevent people enjoying a quiet drink on caf or pub forecourts or those who stroll through the town with a drink in their hands during the Jazz Festival.

Coun Michael Gray said he did not like the idea of clamping down on people who enjoyed a trouble free drink in public places.

He said: "If it's a slight problem as the police say then why are we cracking it with a sledgehammer?"

Coun Nick Fogg said that if vandalism was taking part in certain areas he could not see why the entire town centre should become an alcohol-free zone.

But Coun David Parker said the police should have more power to deal with young drinkers.