Thousands can end up spilling out of pubs and clubs into Mulcaster Street on Friday and Saturday nights and the police are working with the parish and local businesses to pedestrianise it when it’s mobbed to try to make the area safer.

Inspector Mark Coxshall said: “We have been working for the past year on improving the public safety in the area of Mulcaster Street with a lot of support from many other agencies, including licensees and food chain proprietors.

“We have now got support to close the road when we feel it is dangerous or public safety is compromised. This is a great example of where agencies have come together to tackle a problem which impacts a large number of people.

“We are currently finalising the details and we will let the public know when we have the exact plan.”