OFF-LICENSEES in Burnley have been praised by police for their help in the town's crackdown on teenagers buying booze.

But despite the success of the new campaign, police say their efforts to curb under-age drinking will continue.

To date, the emphasis has been on the sale of alcohol with off licences being urged not to sell alcohol to youths, warning of the consequences if they did.

Test purchases and extensive licence checks have also been carried out -- snaring some rogue off-licences.

Now police are turning attention to the youngsters themselves.

Inspector John Clucas, heading the campaign, said: "We are very pleased with the results to date and I am happy to say that all the off-licences we spoke to have been very co-operative.

"We did catch some of them out when we carried out test purchases and licence checks, but those premises are now clear about their responsibilities."

He added: "However, while we are not forgetting off-licences, we now plan to focus more attention on the youngsters caught with alcohol.

"We will be targeting problem areas and warning youths about their behaviour.

"Any alcohol they have will be immediately confiscated and poured away in front of the youths."

Insp Clucas added: " be finding out where the alcohol seized from people was obtained and we will take tough action against those supplying it or buying it on the youngsters' behalf."