TRADERS risk losing their alcohol licences if they ignore regulations banning the sale of alcohol to minors.

The warning was made after licensing justices heard that drunken youth disorder is one of the biggest sources of complaints to police across north Durham.

Three chief inspectors highlighted the problem and the varying tactics adopted to deal with it in their annual reports to North Durham licensing panel.

Corner shops, off-licences and small supermarkets are all being targeted by police to prevent alcohol sales to under-age customers.

Chief Inspector Dave Hogg, of Derwentside division, said the crackdown is among the key aims of the recently-launched district-wide crime and disorder strategy.

Cases of anti-social behaviour are ten per cent up in Derwentside this year.

"A big theme is youths hanging round street corners consuming alcohol. We are trying to tackle it by stemming their supply of alcohol," he said. "We have tried test purchases, which has been quite successful.

"Two trends are emerging, one being alcohol purchased in off-licence outlets by adults on behalf of kids, which is particularly difficult to stop.

"The other is the sale of bootleg alcohol from residential premises, brought in from the continent."

Chief Insp Hogg said legislation only permits police to confiscate opened containers from youths drinking in public.

"Before the police car has left the street, they are opening the next can," he said.

Chief Inspector Carol Thompson, of Easington division, said all 120 off-licences in the district have received letters and follow-up visits from police.

One major chain had its licence revoked until improvements were put in place to prevent sales to under-age customers.

Police-run Friday night discos in Peterlee, proving successful in stemming youth disorder, are to be extended to Seaham and other outlying centres later this year.

Chief Inspector Laz Szomoru, said of 160 off-licences in his Durham and Chester-le-Street division area monitored, only six failed in test purchases.

"I have seen all six and offered appropriate advice. In some cases staff were dismissed and one is in the process of handing over the licence to someone else in the family at my suggestion."

Licensing chairman Walter Heron said: "The street corner culture of teenage gangs drinking in public places continues to be a problem."

He warned that licensees risk revocation of their licences should they sell alcohol to under-age customers."