A MAN who admits he is like Jekyll and Hyde when drunk today said magistrates were right to ban him from town centre pubs and clubs.

Jason Walker said alcohol had ruined his life but said cut-priced drink offers had fuelled his addiction.

He spoke as speculation grew over a government U-turn on extended pub opening hours, amid concern about binge drinking.

Geoff Sutcliffe, senior vice-chairman of Blackburn Licensed Victuallers Association said price wars put a great temptation before young people.

Police said there was no excuse for Walker's actions but said some pubs fuelled a drinking culture with cut price offers.

Walker, 24, of Royshaw Avenue, Blackburn, was issued with the Anti-Social Behaviour Order, making him the first person in Blackburn to be him from town centre pubs and clubs for two years, after he pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

Walker, who has GNVQs in leisure and tourism, health and social care and has a community worker NVQ, had hoped for life as community worker but an increased alcohol-fuelled criminal record has shattered his dream.

He was described in court last week by defence solicitor Clare Knight as an intelligent man who was not proud of his convictions.

He said: "I am a different person when I have had a drink, people say I'm like Jekyll and Hyde.

"If the pubs were made to tighten their rules in terms of prices and drinking hours I would not have got into this mess.

"I have changed since I got into trouble a lot when I was a teenager and things were getting better but the influence of the cheap prices are too good to resist.

"It's things like happy hours and 'buy two, get one free'. They fuel young people with so much alcohol and expect us not to get drunk as a result.

"The trouble will not stop just because I'm not there. I stayed in all weekend because my friends had organised a night out in Blackburn. So I suppose it will change me, but what about the drinking culture as a whole?"

Mr Sutcliffe said: "This lad has a point in some ways, the price wars are a problem and it doesn't help the growing culture of binge drinkers. How can the younger generation resist such temptations."

Jon Royle, Lancashire area director for Alcohol and Drug Services said: "I'm afraid this is typical of the behaviour of young people in the North West and while ASBOs are a good move in terms of making town centres safer, they are not a miracle cure for the individual."

Mr Royle urged legislation to be introduced for a code which regulated the drinking industry, preventing them from using happy hours and offers.

Last week, alcohol action workers across East Lancashire claimed they were watching people die because of lack of funds.

Chief Inspector John Donnelly responsible for licensing at Lancashire Police said: "Large capacity drinking venues in the town centre cutting prices for competition has definitely fuelled a culture that drinking to excess is acceptable."