TEENAGERS will find it increasingly difficult to buy their drink after off-licences and shops in Guisborough signed up to an under-21 alcohol ban.

Cleveland Police are aiming to clamp down on alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour and the premises have now joined forces with them and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to try to solve the problem.

From last night, the stores agreed not to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 between 6pm and 11pm.

Laminated posters will appear in public buildings across the town, letting residents know that the trial has been introduced.

The scheme has proved successful in reducing teenage drunkenness in the streets of Saltburn, Marske and Skelton.

Councillor Dave McLuckie, Redcar and Cleveland council's member for community protection and Skelton ward representative, said: "Since its introduction in Skelton, there has been a marked reduction in the number of young people found drinking.

"There has been a particular improvement around the shops where these young people used to harass people to get them to buy their drink. I must praise the people aged 18 to 21 who are legally entitled to buy alcohol, but are getting refused, because they have not complained about the scheme in any way.

"It has had a major impact and it is something I would like to see rolled out throughout Redcar and Cleveland."

Barrie Hodgson, regional profit protection manager for Sainsbury's, said: "I'm delighted that the police are working with us to stop alcohol getting into the hands of people under 18. We have high quality CCTV cameras inside and outside our stores and we can catch people handing over drink to these underage drinkers.

"We are all working hard to stop these underage drinkers getting hold of alcohol, and this is another step in the right direction."

Neighbourhood policing Sergeant Colin Askey said: "After successful pilots elsewhere in the area, we believe the time is now right to roll it out in Guisborough.

"Our community has put anti-social behaviour by youths who had consumed alcohol as a key priority. It has been a common theme throughout the various consultative meetings that have been held.

"We have received the full co-operation of the premises that sell alcohol to get this initiative in place and we hope to see the same positive results as we've seen elsewhere."