SUMMER in Worcester. There are shops to visit, verdant parks in which the visitor can relax, a beautiful cathedral to investigate and scenic riverside walks. Well, that's how the footpaths along the Severn used to be... until the drunks arrived and ruined it for everybody.

An area of grass fronting a number of homes in Hylton Road has recently become a wasteland of drinks boxes, bottles and assorted rubbish. The people responsible for this mess are, as one would expect, obnoxious individuals who become inebriated while the rest of us are trying to earn a living. This perpetual party of parasites is undoubtedly funded by the taxpayer.

A number of decent citizens have now had enough and organised a petition. This newspaper wishes them well. However, we need more than signatures - drastic action is now required.

We therefore call on the city council to take emergency measures and extend the existing ban on drinking in public from beyond Sabrina Bridge to take in the entire area up to the city boundary. Nothing less will do.

And it's no good a few defeatist councillors moaning that the problem is only being moved elsewhere. No one would use that sort of flawed logic with regard to other forms of anti-social acts or criminality. Would a crackdown on theft be similarly condemned because it marginalised such activities?

We should also not lose sight of the fact that this is ultimately a legal matter. Our view is that the police could solve this problem by enforcing existing laws. Officers must therefore do their duty - for this newspaper is now heartily sick of witnessing the appalling behaviour now heaping shame upon Worcester.