Special seating for the street drinkers

Designer benches for street drinkers are to be installed around Old Street station as part of a £1 million regeneration campaign.

The seats, which will lean inward, also come complete with ashtrays, bins and a low wall for privacy.

Architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu said they want to make local drinkers feel comfortable, adding: "Some people-would like to see the street drinkers go, but just because you drink on the street doesn't mean you're dangerous. The way the benches are going to work would mean a group of five to 10 men can sit around and communicate." However, Sophie Danson, of Alcohol Concern, said: "There is enough antisocial behaviour in the streets as it is without encouraging places where people can sit on benches and drink."