A raft of measures is being put in place in an attempt to curb loutish behaviour in Eastbourne town centre.

Public drunkenness, violent crime and antisocial behaviour are top on the list of problems to be tackled in Eastbourne to reduce the fear of crime.

The Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership, which includes representatives of Eastbourne Borough Council and the police, local licensing trade and Eastbourne Buses, has announced a number of moves to reduce disorder in the resort.

These include a late-night bus service aimed at reducing noise and violence in the town centre at pub and club closing times by ferrying customers home quickly.

Information sharing schemes are to be set up to help pub and club owners keep known troublemakers out.

Council environmental health officers will train bar and door staff on how to minimise noise and disorder.

Police and environmental health officers will make regular visits to alcohol-related crime and disorder hot spots to discourage troublemakers.

There will also be a review of licences for late-night restaurants and takeaways, and "test buying" will be carried out to see how easy it is for under-age drinkers to buy alcohol.

Finally, police are to start a campaign of prosecutions of people caught urinating in public places.

Councillor Sheila Charlton, chairman of the town centre action group, the parent organisation of the community safety partnership, said: "The purpose of the group is to make residents and tourists feel safe in Eastbourne.

"Our safety standards are very good but we are always striving to make things better."