KNOWN trouble-makers will be banned from pubs in a bid to make them safer.

Police have announced that they will share information and photographs of the troublemakers with pubs in the Rosegrove, Gannow and Ightenhill areas of Burnley.

Officers have joined forces with 14 landlords in a bid to stop these people getting into the pubs.

The initiative - designed to keep pubs safer for law-abiding drinkers - came about after a similar schemes proved successful in the Burnley and Padiham areas.

David Stirling, landlord of the Tim Bobbin, Padiham Road, Burnley, said: "The reason this is being implemented is because lots of people have been barred in Padiham and the police are concerned they will come to our pubs.

"If they are barred in Padiham they are barred here."

Joe Atkinson, secretary of Burnley Licensed Victuallers' Association and landlord of the Bridge Inn, in Burnley Road, said: "It's a really good idea. We have been doing it for 15 years and it's the best thing that ever happened. We just tell them they can't drink in here."

Police Community Support Officer Michelle Horne said: "There are a number of pub watch schemes throughout Burnley and Padiham and they are proving very successful in terms of public reassurance and crime reduction.

"This scheme will involve sharing information between landlords and the relevant authorities and photographs of known troublemakers being circulated with a view to preventing them gaining entry."

The pubs involved are the Tim Bobbin, Ighten Mount Bowling Club, Ightenleigh, Junction, Dugdale, Derby Arms, Dickie Pinks, Railway Hotel, Rosegrove Unity, Grey Mare, Railway Club, Gannow Wharf, George IV and Lowerhouse Mills.

The scheme will be launched on May 2.