Britain is developing an unstoppable night-time economy, primarily driven by the leisure industry according to a Local Government Association (LGA) report.

The report, All Day and All Night?, is based on an LGA survey of around 20 different local authorities. It claims that although the growing disposable income of young people means they are spending more on leisure and entertainment and reinvigorating city centres, there are widespread alcohol-related problems.

Case studies of cities including Leeds, Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield and London, plus smaller towns such as Blackpool, Oxford and Weston-super-Mare revealed problems with crime, noise and anti-social behaviour.

The report's authors, Hammersmith councillor Chris Allen and LGA official Helen Goody called for better public transport after midnight, more policing and for the government to proceed with licencing law reform to prevent a concentration of problems when entertainment venues close.

The report also says Britain should aim to cultivate a night-time culture more like that of Europe. Restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and clubs are leading this country's 24-hour trend, where as European cities have more of a cultural feel to late night activity with museums and galleries opening much later and taking the focus away from alcohol.