Parents in Barnsley have been criticised by police for drinking alcohol when dropping off and collecting their children from school.

Complaints have been made about drinking in the street around Doncaster Road primary school in the town.

Councillors and police are to meet to discuss banning drinking alcohol in the streets around the school.

If the ban is implemented police will have the power to confiscate alcohol and drinkers could face a £500 fine.

'Not acceptable'

Det Insp Mark Spooner, of Barnsley's Central Safer Neighbourhood Team, said they had been getting reports of drinking in the streets around the school and also of parents drinking whilst waiting to pick up their children.

He said: "In my view that's clearly not acceptable. It's not acceptable in a modern society and we will put a stop to it."

Safer Neighbourhood Teams consist of police, community support officers, impact wardens and neighbourhood wardens. They work within communities to deal with local problems such as street drinking.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council will meet to discuss the proposed ban on 7 October.