POLICE officer Tom Kinderman was attacked as he gave directions to foreign tourists in Devizes Market Place on Monday evening.

PC Kinderman said: "I was giving directions to a couple and there was swearing going on from a group of people. I thought this was not portraying a good image of Devizes so I went over to speak to them."

He said he was punched twice to the head and was hit in the leg by a full bottle of wine which bounced on to the ground and smashed, throwing broken glass over him.

He said: "I warned the suspect twice that I was going to use CS spray if she didn't calm down. She didn't, so I used the spray and I arrested her."

It was one of the latest incidents where police have had to deal with drunken groups congregating in the Market Place.

Only the next day police had to move on two men who were causing a nuisance near the fountain.

Devizes police commander Inspector Pete Bowerbank said the drunken behaviour had to stop.

He said: "It can't go on. My officers are becoming very frustrated with having to continually deal with the problem. There is a hard core of 12 people causing a nuisance by getting drunk.

"Over the last couple of months there has been a marked rise in anti- social behaviour in the town centre.

"We are arresting people when offences have been committed and putting them before the court, but it doesn't seem to be having the desired effect as they are continuing to drink to excess and commit anti-social behaviour."

Insp Bowerbank met with representatives from Kennet District Council, Sarsen Housing Association and Kennet Action For Single Homeless to discuss the problem.

They have decided to look into the possibility of applying for anti-social behaviour orders which could result in certain people being banned from areas of the town.

They are also going to contact alcohol organisations in a bid to offer help to those concerned.

The drinking bylaw is to be strengthened later this year when police will be able to arrest offenders on the spot.

Joanne Nutland, 33, has been charged with assaulting PC Kinderman, being drunk and disorderly in the Market Place on July 28, and criminal damage to a window on June 4. She is due to appear before magistrates in Devizes on Tuesday.