WALTHAM Forest is one of eleven London boroughs to receive a slice of a £1.5million fund aimed at reducing alcohol-related crime and disorder.

Deemed an “alcohol blackspot” the borough will be given £30,000 from the new Home Office fund to tackle problems such as the sale of alcohol to under-18s and drunk and rowdy behaviour.

Cabinet member for community safety, enforcement and protection Cllr Afzal Akram said: "External funding is always welcome and the money will be used to strengthen our stance against underage alcohol sales as well as improving our licensing and enforcement operations."

The money will be made available to 50 priority areas, of which Waltham Forest is 46th, with the highest levels of alcohol-related crime and disorder, as well as the highest levels public concern about the problem.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for crime reduction Alan Campbell said: “I fully expect this will boost the drive against alcohol-related crime and disorder, and help reduce alcohol related problems in London.”

According to the North West Public Health Observatory's Local Alcohol Profile for the local authority, Waltham Forest is rated “significantly worse” than the national average for hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm and alcohol-related crimes.