PUBS and clubs in Banbury are throwing their weight behind a scheme to make the town a safer place at night.

They are supporting Nightsafe - an initiative launched in February to promote responsible drinking and cut crime.

The scheme links the Government's cleaner greener environmental campaign and local efforts to reduce alcohol-related violence and other offences.

Twelve town centre licensed premises have joined the scheme since it was launched in February.

The aim is to improve the quality and appearance of the town centre and ensure that pubs, clubs, and restaurants are safer and more enjoyable for customers and staff.

The scheme is run by Cherwell District Council in partnership with the police, emergency services, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, and Banbury Pubwatch.

The latest move, introduced by the licensees after a meeting of Nightsafe members, is a free soft drinks offer to car drivers.

Julie Wileman, CDC's Nightsafe officer, said: "We are constantly working to reduce drink-related problems and to educate people in the health and social impacts of drinking too much."

She said: "Nightsafe was launched in Banbury around six weeks ago and is working well. Only a couple of licensed premises are not part of the scheme.

"The newest initiative is the free soft drinks offer which pubs and clubs are financing themselves.

"They are giving away the drinks and they should be congratulated for what they are doing."

She explained how the offer worked.

She said: "Groups on a night out nominate a designated driver who has to hand over their ignition keys and produce their driving licence when they enter a licensed premises.

"In return, they get a special key fob which they have to produce when they claim their free drinks. When they leave a pub or club they get their car keys back and the procedure starts again at their next port of call."

The free drinks offer operates every night of the week between 7pm and closing time.

Cllr Eric Heath, who is spearheading the scheme, said: "Nightsafe already operates in Oxford, Abingdon, and Witney, and other places up and down the country.

"Cherwell has launched it in Banbury and later this year will take it to Bicester and Kidlington. After that we hope to encourage village pubs to join in."

He said: "We want people to use the designated driver scheme. It's a great initiative started by the licensees and we want it to be successful."

As members of Nightsafe, licensees agree to a set of rules and display certificates that set out the scheme's aims.

Mr Heath said Nightsafe started as a police-led project but it had now been taken over by the council.

He said: "It is yet another good scheme for promoting good behaviour in the town centre and also helps publicans maintain a friendly and sociable atmosphere in their premises."

Supt Paul Emmings, area commander for Thames Valley Police, said: "This scheme pulls everything together so that anyone who signs up is able to adopt the same approach and make our towns safer places in which to have a good time.

"We have seen excellent results with crime and crime figures in places like Witney which has seen a 43 percent reduction in serious assaults."