Plans to install £5,000 gates at a Workington town centre spot to tackle anti-social behaviour are taking a step forward.

Workington Town Council, Allerdale council and Cumbria police are working together to respond to rising levels of anti-social behaviour in the back lanes off Murray Road, next to Subway and Argos.

They are working with local firm Shepley Engineering, which has offered to design the gates for free.

Chris Bagshaw, Workington town clerk, said: "They've offered to design the gates with the help of their apprentices and it's a good idea because the gates are going to be quite prominent and we don't want the area to look like a prison."

Mr Bagshaw added that they are in talks with Workington Rotary Club to adopt the gates and look after the maintenance.

Shopkeepers would be in charge of opening the gates in the morning and closing them at night to prevent youths from gathering there.

An Allerdale council spokesman said: "Extensive discussions have taken place between Allerdale Borough Council, Workington Town Council, the police, local businesses and other community organisations to tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour in the Murray Road area and these meetings have been very positive. 

"The next step in the process is for the police to submit an application for a public space protection order to Allerdale council.

If that is granted, planning permission will then be required, before the alley gate proposals could go before a meeting of the full council to seek its approval."

The estimated cost of the gates will be split between the two councils.

The proposal came after an emergency meeting was called by PC Lorraine Murphy, of the problem solving team, in October to address the increasing problems of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and needles being found in the area.