Salford City Council passed a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which deems it a criminal offence to use “foul and abusive language” at Salford Quays.

Thousands of football fans use the waterfront as a route to and from the Old Trafford football stadium.

Anyone caught breaching the rules is liable for a fixed penalty notice of £90 or a summons with a maximum penalty of £1,000 on conviction.

The swearing rules were backed by 76 per cent of 130 residents in a local vote.

But human rights group Liberty says the council has breached the right to freedom of expression by criminalising offensive speech.

A defiant council spokesperson insisted to ITV News that it was “not going to apologise for using national legislation to help Salford residents when their lives are being made a misery by anti-social behaviour”.