AN off-licence in Pendle is the first in the borough to be targeted as part of a licensing crackdown on teenage boozers.

Police have asked for a licensing review of Shop 2 Go at the Heritage Car Centre in Skipton Road over allegations that staff sold alcohol on three occasions to under-age drinkers.

Several off-licences and stores in Burnley have been the subject of similar action by Pennine police’s provisional divisional licensing officers in recent months.

Pendle Borough Council’s licensing team had also called for a review of a license at Jacks in Gisburn Road Barrowford where Shameless actor Jodie Latham was once a partner, over noise problems – but this is believed to be the first purge in Pendle against under-age drinking.

Licencing PC Gary Walker is behind the review.

He said in his application to Pendle council that the availability of alcohol from the premises was under-mining efforts to protect children from harm caused by alcohol.

PC Walker said that while there was little anti-social behaviour around the premises, there were “massive problems” in nearby Colne centre.

He said: “The availability of alcohol from these prem-ises clearly contributes to that nuisance and disorder.”

PC Walker has told the council that Pendle is ranked in the top 50 worst areas in respect of alcohol related recorded crime and anti-social behaviour.

The shop failed test purchasing operations in August 2008, February 2009 and August 2009.

In the final sting, a girl was sold a bottle of Blossom Hill Californian Pinot Grigio by staff.

No-one from the Shop 2 Go chain available for comment.