THE new family-centred evening activities in Bournemouth this summer has resulted in a significant drop in antisocial behaviour on Friday nights, say town centre chiefs.

Bournemouth council has been running Family Friday Fiestas - which finished last night - which has seen an entertainment line-up geared towards families and young children as well as the usual firework display.

Last summer saw mounted police, dog handlers and uniformed reinforcements drafted in after violence flared at the Pier Approach after the fireworks.

Head of tourism Mark Smith said that the new family-centred approach had proved to be successful by making for a better atmosphere down in the Lower Gardens and Pier Approach.

He said: "The problems last year were after the fireworks had finished. This year the whole Lower Gardens has been lit up with extra lighting.

"The whole atmosphere has been much better and there have been four times more people than on a normal Friday. I think what it has done is brought in more families down, even grandparents.

"The fireworks were at 10pm but the activities started from 8pm and we have also had a children's disco on the bandstand and Pier Approach.

"There is no doubt it has been much more enjoyable and there has been much more children's activities. And I have had spontaneous letters and emails from people saying how delighted they are with the entertainment and what's on offer."

Inspector Neil MacBean said although there had been a few problems it was nothing like that of previous years.

"Right from the start we said we are not going to resolve all the problems overnight. This has to be both a step in the right direction bringing families into the town and putting on things for families and young children and it has certainly made for a nicer atmosphere.

"We have had sporadic trouble but nothing on the scale of previous years," he said.