A World Cup glass ban is being imposed in pubs across Sussex.

Sussex Police are asking landlords to swap glass for plastic during next month’s tournament to make sure drinks do not turn into weapons if trouble flares.

The move is part of efforts to keep the peace on the streets when thousands of people go out to watch England games throughout June.

Chief Superintendent Paul Morrison said: “We will not put up with anyone whose exuberance degenerates into drunken or antisocial behaviour.

“The World Cup is a time for celebration and our main aim is to make this a safe and trouble free tournament for the thousands of fans across Sussex.

“We have asked licensees to work with us to keep people safe by, for example, providing drinks only in plastic or polycarbonate glasses and bringing to our attention any trouble-makers, which will enable us to act quickly to ensure their behaviour does not affect others.”

Leo Day, director of the Golden Lion pub group, runs four venues showing World Cup football – the Long Man of Wilmington and the Ladies Mile in Patcham, The Cricketers in Black Lion Street, Brighton, and the Plough Inn in Vicarage Lane, Rottingdean.

He said he decided to switch to plastic glasses an hour either side of the games after pubs received a letter from Sussex Police asking for measures to help to keep order.

Sussex Police are braced for a rise in domestic abuse throughout the tournament and are working with ports to stop banned football hooligans travelling to South Africa.