The stench of stale urine, broken bottles and discarded cans of super-strength beer -- not to mention the discarded syringes -- are all-too familiar features of central Oxford.

Just a few paces off the tourist trail followed by thousands of visitors from all over the world every day, this is another side to the city.

But now police and councillors hope to tackle the problem by trying to improve the environment which 20 years ago city planners could not have foreseen would provide such a labyrinth-like lair for antisocial elements.

They are planning a street-by-street assessment of Oxford trouble-spots, where people with drink and drug problems and, in the latter case, their suppliers, gather -- sometimes literally -- on other people's doorsteps.

The initiative has become something of a joint crusade for Paul Sargent, the Carfax ward city councillor, and Pc Paul Phillips, the beat officer for the city centre. Pc Phillips said: "The measures we are suggesting, which would greatly improve the quality of life for local residents -- many of them elderly -- are largely cosmetic, and would not cost a lot of money to introduce.

"We plan to go around the whole city centre assessing areas where people abuse drink and drugs and try to come up with solutions."

Some of the suggested solutions:

Public toilets in Speedwell Street: railing off the canopied entrance and 'sterile' area to the side to prevent overnight sleeping and known drug abuse

Pruning trees to allow street lighting to be more effective in deterring antisocial behaviour

Lowering brick walls to waist height in Luther Street, particularly around the waste bins area, to make it a no-go zone for drug users and sleepers

Butterwyke Place: raising the height of the railings by two metres to prevent a hidden corner overlooking Thames Street being used as a toilet and drug-dealers' den

Digging out a bank next to the River Thames in Friars Wharf, known locally as 'The Beach', to prevent its daily use by drink and drugs abusers.