Outdoor alcohol ban takes effect

Those who break the new law could be fined up to £500

Drinking in the streets and parks of Kirriemuir and Arbroath town centres has been banned

Anyone who breaks the new law on consuming alcohol outdoors faces a fine of up to £500.

The new legislation does not affect people drinking in their own gardens or premises which have permission to set up tables and chairs outside.

The rules will also be relaxed between 1800 BST on Hogmanay and 0600 BST on New Year's Day.

'Hard battle'

Kirriemuir Community Council has been campaigning for years for a ban.

Chairman Roland Proctor said: "It's been a long, hard battle. We first mooted this more than six years ago, to give the people of the town just a wee bit of respite.

"It can be quite intimidating to some of the population, particularly the elderly and the young, so we're very pleased that it's happening.

"The majority of people in Kirriemuir go out to the pubs and enjoy themselves and have a drink and go about their business in a peaceable fashion, but there is an element which does cause quite a lot of trouble and hopefully this will cut that down."