POLICE in Burnley have called for more support in their fight to tackle underage drinking in the town.

Both the licensee and an employee at an off-licence are to receive £80 Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) after being caught selling alcohol to underage youths.

The off-licence fell foul of a Police Test Purchasing exercise at the weekend, which was carried out by Neighbourhood Police Officers as a direct result of concerns raised by residents.

In addition to issuing two PNDs, officers also confiscated 60 litres of alcohol from youths in the area - largely cheap cider, and made seven arrests for criminal damage after a number of wing mirrors were damaged in Queen Victoria Road.

Six of the teenagers arrested were given bail pending further enquiries and one was released.

Police Community Support Officer Nigel Keates said: "The Penalty Notices, alcohol seizures and arrests were done during our routine anti-social behaviour patrols.

"These are carried out each and every weekend in a bid to combat drunken anti-social behaviour and prevent the lives and property of local residents being disrupted.

"It is disappointing to say the least that some off licences are still selling alcohol to youths - some people are clearly failing to heed repeated warnings and as a result, they risk being hit in the pocket and ultimately, for some, losing their licence.

"Underage drinking is a significant concern for local communities - it is certainly an issue raised regularly at local Police and Communities Together meetings.

"We are doing everything we can to tackle the problem, it is now time that off licences and their staff played their part and lived up to their responsibilities."