A clampdown on lager louts is to continue this year to keep a popular real ale rail trail on the right track.

Colne Valley landlords, councillors, police and Northern Rail staff will all do their bit to prevent the drunken antics which plagued villages such as Slaithwaite and Marsden last year.

The Valleys police team will head the drive to keep wayward revellers and unruly groups of hen and stag parties in check.

Tough action last summer included landlord-enforced drinking bans.

‘Visible’ teams of special constables, mounted police and road police will patrol train stations and main thoroughfares in the areas on Saturdays, although neighbourhood inspector Mark Trueman hopes that they will need less officers on duty than last year.

However, pub landlords have agreed to ‘wait and see’ before they consider reintroducing bans on fancy dress, stag and hen dos and shots, spirit doubles and lager.

The Real Ale Trail was set up five years ago to allow ale fans to enjoy a quiet drink along the Stalybridge to Dewsbury Transpennine route following its appearance on the BBC’s Oz and James Drink to Britain, but quickly became a hot spot for large groups looking for a day of binge drinking.

Insp Trueman said: “The police presence made a positive impact last year and now we want to take it forward.

“Policing won’t be at the same intensity as before but we want to make sure that people know we will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour, are taking the issue very seriously and will maintain a visible presence, including a mounted section and road policing.

“If anyone wants to contact us in connection with this we welcome them to do so by calling 01484 436898.”

Speaking about the plans, Gary Brammall, general manager at the Riverhead Brewery Tap and a member of Real Ale Trail Licensees (RATL), which was set up by landlords and brewers along the route, said: “I’m happy that the police will have a presence again this year.

“RATL have not had to have a full meeting since we made the decision to stop serving shots or lager last year and will wait and see if we think it’s necessary to have another one as the summer progresses because, although it’s quiet now, the situation could change, particularly with the football season ending.

“We don’t want people to think ‘that’s it’ because it will start to pick up but it’s a case of wait and see and we hope that everyone’s efforts last year will mean that we have less problems this time around.”

Meanwhile, Colne Valley councillor Donna Bellamy said: “If we get the police presence again then we shouldn’t have any problems.

“We don’t want it to return to how it was with lots of stag and hen dos but the Real Ale Trail, when it is that, is fantastic.”

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here