PUB landlords in South Cheshire can now call time on yobs in more than 200 pubs across the whole district thanks to new blanket bans.

Licensees can issue bans that can bar trouble-makers from 155 drinking venues in Crewe and Nantwich, a further 20 in Alsager and 32 in Sandbach.

Sandbach publicans are the latest to sign up to the Pubwatch scheme after it was found that some of those banned from Crewe were travelling to the town for booze.

Now violent and abusive drinkers face being shut out of all the pubs in South Cheshire for one offence.

The scheme is designed to stamp out violence in pubs, the sale or use of drugs, threatening or abusive behaviour, damage and theft.

PC Dave Allen, liason officer for Pubwatch in Sandbach and Alsager, said: 'There have been incidents where those people banned from Crewe and Nantwich have been coming to Sandbach and causing problems.

'A lot of licensees in Sandbach are quite friendly with licensees in Crewe and Nantwich, so they know who the troublemakers are.

'It has been a problem but this means landlords are now advised to not to let them in. But the Pubwatch is not just about banning people, it also acts as an exchange of information.'

Inspector Chris Morrall, of Congleton and Vale Royal Police said: 'Those persons who go to pubs with the intention of drinking to excess and then assaulting people and causing damage will very rapidly be looking for somewhere else to drink.'