TRADING standards officers may prosecute off-licences caught selling alcohol to 15-year-olds.

Teenage volunteers were recruited to test whether licence-holders were following the law on not selling drink to anyone under the age of 18.

From October to March, 58 premises in Sunderland were visited by the young test purchasers, who found that 21 shops were willing to sell them alcohol.

A spokeswoman for the city council's trading standards department said the authority is "considering the prosecution of a number of people and licensees and employees of small, medium and large retailers".

Before the campaign, trading standards and police officers visited every outlet in the city to remind licensees of the law.

Conviction can lead to fines and the loss of the drinks licence.

Trading standards officer Tom Terrett said: "Clearly, despite all our efforts, we still have not yet got the message across to many retailers that they need to do more to stop alcohol being sold to children from their shops.

"Licensees should know that we will continue to check what they are doing with regard to the sale of alcohol to children, and that if they are caught, they face prosecution and possibly loss of their licence.

"We plan to go back to all off-licensees about this in the near future, but if they want any advice on steps they can take to avoid problems in the meantime, they can contact us on 0191-553 1709.

"We would also urge the public to use the same number to report anyone selling alcohol to children."