Former army sergeant Joe Eccles was banned for alleged violence after a fracas with a 73-year-old near his home in Bamber Bridge in June 2005 – but the case was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Eccles, who turns 81 tomorrow, is so angry that he is considering taking legal action against the ban from all establishments in the local Pubwatch scheme. However, Pubwatch organisers have said they may soon review his ban.

Now the great-grandfather says unless Pubwatch and the police apologise to him, and compensate him for his ordeal, he plans to sue them and will next week consult with a relative who is a barrister.

He said: "The ban states I was violent but that is not the case and I have been cleared by the courts.

"But they have still banned me when there is no proof I'm guilty. In this country you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but in my case I'm guilty until proven innocent."

PC Richard Howarth, community police officer for Bamber Bridge, confirmed all proceedings had been dropped against Mr Eccles.

Paul Simon, chair of Bamber Bridge Pubwatch and manager of the McKenzies Arms on Station Road, said he could not comment on individual cases but added: "Over the last couple of months we have decided we will automatically review bans.

"We will consider the circumstances and how long ago the incident happened. This will apply to all members of the ban list, including Mr Eccles."