LEOMINSTER MP Bill Wiggin has criticised the Government's plans for longer drinking hours.

Mr Wiggin claimed the new licensing laws allowing pubs and clubs to stay open longer will only increase the amount of alcohol-fuelled yob behaviour.

The Conservative politician said: "I'm all in favour of people having a good time out, but in Herefordshire we are not creating a caf culture, but a yob culture.

"Binge drinking and under-age drinking have a direct link to soaring levels of violent crime - no wonder there were 2,651 violent attacks on people across Herefordshire last year.

"Yet the Labour Government's new licensing laws threaten to worsen this problem."