ANYONE caught taking legal high drugs and drinking alcohol in public places around Taunton could be hit with a fine from the start of next month.

Taunton is to become one of the first places in England to outlaw ‘intoxicating substances’ when a Public Space Protection Order comes into effect on June 1.

It will replace existing ‘no drinking orders’ and cover a larger area, taking in the town centre, areas around Priorswood Road, through to Toneway and Blackbrook Way.

The county town decided to follow the lead of Lincoln City Council, which introduced the scheme earlier this year, after members of the public overwhelming backed the idea in a survey carried out by Taunton Deane Council.

The restrictions on alcohol will not apply to pavement cafes or licensed premises.

Anyone breaching the order – which bans people from ingesting, inhaling, injecting smoking or otherwise using intoxicating substances in specified areas - will be committing a criminal offence and could receive a fixed penalty notice or face a fine in court.

Police and council enforcement officers will have the power to confiscate the intoxicating substances.

Cllr Jane Warmington, who led on the campaign, said: “Alongside this the council is increasingly working with others to support those with problems who may end up causing a nuisance in an effort to improve things for everyone.”

Council leader Cllr John Williams said: “This Protection Order has to be welcomed - through great partnership working with the police we are able to offer protection for the majority against the most unwelcome and undesirable activities of the minority.

“Our streets, parks and open spaces should be much cleaner and safer as a result of this order and it allows a clear message to be given that unacceptable, anti-social behaviour in Taunton will not be tolerated.

“It is great that we have received the overwhelming support of our community to implement this.”

Nick Smith, who helped set up the South West Action Group (SWAG) last year in response to several incidents of anti-social behaviour linked to people taking legal highs, said: “This is fantastic news.

“Hopefully it will mean we won’t have the same scenes repeated as we were seeing last year.

“No-one should be expected to see people injecting drugs in front of them and their children in our parks and on our streets, which was happening last year.”

Police went to court to shutdown Hush, a shop selling legal highs in Bridge Street, Taunton – the six-month closure order runs out on June 16.