SPOT fines have been issued to two shops which sold alcohol to teenagers during a police operation.

The two premises, owned by the same retailer, were issued with £80 fixed penalty fines after selling alcopops to the youngsters in the test purchase operation.

Eight premises in the Chester-le-Street area were targeted during the operation on Friday night when two young people attempted to buy alcohol, in tests on behalf of the police.

Most refused to sell drink to the pair - a girl and boy in their mid-teens - but one off-licence and one newsagents were fined.

Sergeant Tim Robson, of Durham Police, said: "Unfortunately, two of the premises where test purchases were carried out, owned by the same operator, failed to ask the youngsters for identification and sold alcopops to them.

"That is two premises too many as far as we are concerned."

Licensed premises caught selling alcohol to underage youngsters on three occasions face having their licence taken away.

This is the latest in a string of similar operations by police in north Durham. Owners of premises in the Stanley area, Chester-le-Street and the Consett area have also been fined.