Retailers want a cap on the number of bars in their street because of fears over their daytime trade.

Traders believe Belvoir Street, in Leicester city centre, is now known only for its bars and not as the shopping destination they say it used to be.

As the number of licensed premises has increased – there are currently eight bars, clubs and restaurants – regular daytime traders have moved out of the area.

Those who remain say trade is down and they regularly suffer the aftermath of a busy night before – having to clean up vomit, urine, bottles and cans most mornings.

They want the street to be declared an 'alcohol saturation zone', a move which is being considered by Leicester City Council as part of a wider examination of it's licensing policies.

If the cap was introduced, it would make it highly unlikely any further drinking venues would be allowed to open there.

Currently, only Church Gate in the city is a saturation zone.

The Gateway Business Association, whose members include some of Belvoir Street's shops and bars, has told the city council it wants a saturation zone there.

Chairman Joe Fowler said: "We feel that Belvoir Street has already gone beyond saturation point.

"We don't need new bars here, we need new businesses to come in to make Belvoir Street a shopping destination again.

"Sometimes we think the only way we're going to survive as businesses would be to turn ourselves into bars."

Sarah Stamp, managing director of jewellery shop Denhams, said: "Footfall during the day has fallen as the number of bars has risen and there aren't so many retailers.

"Belvoir Street used to be the hub of retail in Leicester and we really need to push hard to revamp it.

"There are more than enough bars here already, so limiting their number would be a good place to start the effort to get Belvoir Street back as an important shopping street again."

Lex Gohil, manager of Bar Sirius, in Belvoir Street, said he had served lunches at the bar but stopped doing so four months ago because there was not enough trade.

He backed the cap and said: "I have a vested interest, I suppose, there being a limit on the bars but I would like to be able to trade during the day."

Leicester City Council said the consultation on its licensing policies would continue until the end of the month.

Mike Broster, head of licensing at the authority, said: "Church Gate was declared a saturation zone after the police provided evidence and statistics about the number of assaults and other violent crimes associated with alcohol there compared with other parts of the city.

"The consideration is based purely on crime and disorder and public nuisance, mainly noise.

"No decisions have been reached and we are keen the consultation involves as many people as possible."

City councillor Patrick Kitterick, whose Castle ward includes the city centre, said: "It's definitely worth asking people what they think should happen with Belvoir Street.

"There are quite a few empty units there and they would be protected from becoming bars if the area was a saturation zone."

City police said it would be inappropriate to comment as the city council's consultation was continuing.

It is understood officers are analysing statistics for alcohol-related violence linked to Belvoir Street's bars and clubs.

They will then reach a decision on whether to recommend the street is declared a saturation zone.

Details of the council's consultation on licensing policy can be found at:

www.leicester.gov.uk/licensing