PSYCHOACTIVE substances – also known as 'legal highs' – have been banned from Warrington town centre as part of a clampdown by the police and council.

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been approved to tackle this type of substance misuse in heart of the town.

Cllr Pat Wright, executive board member for statutory health and adult social care, said: “The abuse of psychoactive substances in Warrington has been clearly shown to have a detrimental effect on our communities.

“These substances are not safe for human consumption and the consequences for those taking them can be extremely serious and sometimes even fatal.”

Following the introduction of Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016, it is now illegal to produce, supply, import or export these substances for human consumption. 

The council’s executive board has agreed to a PSPO covering the town centre and nearby areas in Bewsey, Whitecross, Fairfield and Howley.

The order, which will last for 12 months, gives the police the power to act against anyone behaving in a way that causes alarm or distress.

Officers can also confiscate any substances found in their possession.

Those who breach the order can be issued a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 or £1,000 following a prosecution.

A consultation by the council uncovered how 86 per cent of those who took part were in support of introducing the order in a bid to deter people taking the substances.