A group of around 75 children had a large amount of alcohol seized by police as they were caught partying to celebrate the end of their school year.

On Friday evening, even before 6pm, police were called to Marl Pits in Rossendale after receiving a number of reports about a group of year 11 students who were drinking alcohol and being rowdy.

When police arrived, they were forced to seize and then dispose of a 'very large amount' of booze from around 75 16-year-olds, who had broken up for study leave prior to their GCSE exams.

Officers said they 'didn't want to spoil people's fun' but were concerned that the young people were already heavily intoxicated at such an early hour and were creating a mess on a community football pitch that would probably need to be used over the weekend.

Asking parents whether they knew where their children were on Friday night, a spokesperson for the police said: "Parents! Do you know where your children are tonight?

"We are aware that several year 11 year groups have broken up today for study leave prior to exams.

"Prior to 6pm tonight already we have seized and disposed of a very large amount of alcohol off 16-year-olds. This group numbered up to 75 young people at Marl Pits.

"We don't want to spoil people's fun, but many of these young people are already clearly intoxicated and the mess they were creating on a football pitch that is probably being used in the morning is nothing short of shocking.

"Some of the more sensible one's there have begun clearing some of empty alcohol containers and bottles into the bin that is situated adjacent to the pitches."