Home secretary Alan Johnson has unveiled two prototype pint glasses, designed to reduce the type of injuries caused by an estimated 87,000 glass attacks each year.

Glass Plus, which features an internal bio-resin coating on the inside to provide greater strength, and the Twin Wall concept, a two-layer design similar to a laminated car windscreen, are designed not to shatter into loose shards. Johnson said: "Glassing causes horrific injuries and has a lasting and devastating impact on victims and their families. I hope these designs will help bring an end to such attacks."

Meanwhile, Balance - the North East of England's Alcohol Office - has called for the introduction of minimum pricing after research showed that cheap alcohol prices is "seriously damaging the health and wealth" of people across the region. Balance director Colin Shevills said: "Cheap alcohol is fuelling the North East's problem with drink. Alcohol is a primary instigator in violent crime. It increases hospital admissions which drain vital NHS resources. It encourages absenteeism and causes disability which increases the amount of benefit claims."