POLICE are bidding to step up a booze ban in Dorchester amid fears over an increase in drunken vagrants abusing passers-by.

They aim to extend the bylaw giving them powers to act against people drinking in public as alcoholics from CCTV towns Weymouth and Yeovil congregate increasingly in Dorchester.

Traders from Dorchester's chamber of commerce threw their weight behind the campaign amid concerns that drinkers from Bridport may join in when CCTV begins there. Insp Andy Mason of Dorchester Police said: "Vagrants and drunks are using the seats between the Charles Street car parks.

"The drinking by-law has been very successful in parts of the town and I want it to include the whole town centre.

"I am working with West Dorset District Council to consider the boundaries."

His comments came as traders raised their fears at a chamber of commerce meeting about vagrants and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Chamber president Richard Thorogood vowed to contact the district council to throw the chamber's weight behind the crusade.

He said: "There have been a lot of complaints by shop owners and members of the public. I experienced verbal abuse from a group at 7.30pm at night after the last chamber executive meeting. It seems to be getting worse in recent months. We need to make this a town where drinking in public in this way is not tolerated."

A by-law was made last year granting town council staff and police the discretionary power to report anyone who was drinking 'inappropriately' in public.

Ian Marchant, of the FL Mabb shop in High West Street, said: "People come from Weymouth and Yeovil to Dorchester.

"Obviously they will come from Bridport when their CCTV scheme starts. That's three major towns whose vagrants are coming here. We need something to combat this with."

John Manley, chamber vice-president, added that many elderly felt threatened by drinkers in the bus shelters.

Inspector Mason said that police were working with rough sleeper groups, churches and councils to help deal with vagrants, mentally ill homeless people and drunks. He said that he was going to write to off-licence and supermarket bosses to urge them to refuse alcohol to people.

Martin Ansell raised a concern about the length of time it takes to get through to the police on a non-999 number, but Insp Mason said this was being looked at. He added that more crime happened on market day in Dorchester because it was also prison visiting day and that the rise in social housing had led to the growth of transient people in Dorchester causing problems.