Plans to fine street drinkers in Eastbourne up to £500 have been delayed.

Councillors spent months drawing up a bylaw to ban street drinking in the seaside resort to cut crime and anti-social behaviour.

They had hoped to see the bylaw in force later this year, threatening anyone breaching it with arrest and a £500 fine.

But the council plan has been shelved after the Government drafted its own proposals in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill.

With Parliament in summer recess, MPs will not debate the new law until they return to Westminster in October.

The council is hoping the Act, when introduced, will give police powers to force street drinkers out of certain areas.

Tory council leader Graham Marsden said: "I am very disappointed that the Government is no longer processing new bylaws relating to street-drinking.

"We will do everything possible to create a designated area within which those who behave in an anti-social way can be challenged.

"As soon as the new law is in place we will be in a position to take action."

Hot-spots include the pier to the bandstand, the memorial roundabout to Trinity Trees and the Town Hall to the railway station, including Ivy Terrace.

But police fear a ban on street drinking would be difficult to implement.

Inspector Tim Mottram said: "We can arrest street drinkers and take them to court where they will often be fined and bound over to keep the peace.

But an hour later they are going to be back either at the same spot or somewhere else.

"What really needs to happen is to set up a so-called wet centre where street drinkers can go and drink.

"But who is going to want one of those on their doorstep? It's a very difficult issue."