GLASSES in bars and pubs in Darwen town centre are set to be scrapped after 9pm following a successful campaign.

The glass ban has come in the wake of the murder of Jay Jay Taylor, who died after having a champagne flute thrust into his neck at the former Esco-Bar in the town.

On Tuesday Jack Costello was jailed for life for the horrific unprovoked attack on January 28.

In the wake of the 23-year-old’s murder, the Justice 4 Jay Jay petition was set up to ‘prevent losing another life’ and generated more than 4,700 signatures.

Mellor resident Natalie Yates, who is the best friend of Jay Jay’s mother, Vicky Taylor, set up the petition in a bid to get Blackburn with Darwen Council to review safety policies in bars and pubs.

The mum-of-two said: “The level of support for the petition has been massive and it’s quite overwhelming really to get to where we are now.

“Jay Jay was killed and as I am very close to the family, having grown up with his mother, I thought I had to do something to stop this happening again.

“A scheme like this should have been brought in a long time ago, but I’m glad it will finally be coming into Darwen town centre.

“It’s a big step for the town and definitely the right thing to do. It’s just a shame that the tragedy of what happened to Jay Jay was the catalyst for this.”

The glass curfew, which was first proposed in March, will mean that glasses will be replaced by plastic drinking vessels, and has received backing and funding from the council.

A total of £10,000 will be invested into the scheme, with £5,000 from the police and crime commissioner, £2,500 from the council ad £2,500 from the bars and pubs taking part.

The council has said a date is yet to be set for the implementation of the new initiative.

Sayyed Osman, director of adult services and prevention at the council, said: “The police and crime commissioner and Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed to part fund a scheme to renew plastic glass usage in Darwen with businesses agreeing to their use after 9pm.

“We are in the process of confirming the match-funding from the businesses and the details of each individual businesses requirements in order to finalise the scheme.”

Nineteen bars and pubs originally supported the proposal to bring in plastic glasses, with Wetherspoons opting out.

Darwen BarU chairman Leon Kelly, the owner of Level One nightclub, said: “The council has asked me to get together all the spreadsheets and requirements of each of the venues who originally agreed to take part in the scheme.

“What happened to Jay Jay was a massive tragedy that the whole town will need a number of years to overcome. All we can do now is try to improve the safety of the town and protect people in this area.”

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We will not be introducing this policy. This is being done voluntarily by pubs in the town late night venues.

“We have spoken with the licensing officer regarding this and he is happy with our approach.

“If this was a condition of the licence then of course we would adhere to it.”

A spokesman for the Bridgewater pub in Darwen said: "We have been using plastic/polycarbonate glasses on Friday and Saturdays since around 2010."

Ms Yates, who used to live in Darwen, also said she was considering expanding the scheme to other parts of East Lancashire in the future.

She added: “As I said I’m glad it’s taking off but I hope this will be brought into other parts of the county, including Whalley, Clitheroe and Blackburn. There are still quite a few places that need to follow suit.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Recognising the concerns that have been raised following this tragic incident, I am helping to fund this initiative through the local Community Safety Partnership.

“Plastic glasses are designed to lower the risks of crime and help to develop safer communities."