As part of ongoing work to combat the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers, police targeted 19 premises following tip-offs from the public who suspected they were selling alcohol to young people.

Although the results were encouraging - 17 passed - it was disappointing that two failed, Supersave in Boundary Street and Schofields in Piccadilly Road, where staff were handed £80 Fixed Penalty Tickets.

PCSO Dave Johnson who carried out the operation with other officers praised most of the off-licence staff for their diligence in carrying out checks on customers' ages. He said: "Although we do not have as many failures as we used to have two or three years ago, it shows off-licences still need to be on their toes when asking for ID from anyone who does not look old enough."

He said off-licences should now be using the Challenge 21 initiative and if someone looks under 21 they should be asked to prove they are 18 before letting them buy alcohol.

"We shall continue to carry out these operations and any necessary fines or suspensions of licences will be enforced. We have had many successes in the past in shutting down persistent offenders and also suspending licences for long periods – you have been warned," he said.

If anyone has information relating to off-licences selling alcohol to underage youths they are encouraged to report it to the police.