FOUR pubs and an off-licence face an anxious wait to see if they will lose their licence after they sold booze to under-age test purchasers.

Community bobby Nigel Keates led the exercise to crack down on alcohol sales to under-18s. He said the results are disappointing.

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He warned that the owners face losing their licence and that other premises selling alcohol across Pendle, Burnley and Rossendale could expect similar unannounced test-purchase exercises.

On Friday, PC Keates, community beat officer for Colne and West Craven, led a team of officers from the police and Lancashire Trading Standards in carrying out test purchases to ensure under-18s are not being served alcohol.

Four of five pubs and one of two off-licences tested failed because they sold alcohol to the test purchasers aged 14 and 15.

PC Keates said: “At this stage we are not going to name the premises involved.

“It was a disappointing evening. I think that we expected better.”

A more senior “licensing officer” will now decide what action to take, which could include removing the licence to sell alcohol from the owners.

PC Keates said: “The premises will certainly be visited again without warning and could lose their licence.

“Pubs, clubs and off-licences across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale can rest assured we will be making visits without warning to make sure they are obeying the law.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “This is deeply disappointing.

“Underage drinking is a scourge that needs to be tack- led.

“I hope the appropriate action will be taken and if there is a pattern of offending, the relevant people and premises lose their licence.”