TIME is being called on greedy traders who sell alcohol to children, as part of a Christmas crackdown.

Middlesbrough Council trading standards department has become one of the first in Britain to use new powers over illegal sales of alcohol to the under 18s.

Councillor Robert Smith, council commissioner for community safety, said: "We have to put retailers on notice that if they sell alcohol to people under 18, then we will take a robust approach, take enforcement action and press for the heaviest sentences.''

Trading standards say complaints from residents, councillors and community groups across the town, together with surveillance of several off licenses have provided "a wealth of evidence'' about where and when these illegal sales take place.

A number of target premises have been identified, one of them selling a one-and-a-half litre bottle of white wine to a 14-year-old girl this week.

Coun Smith said more enforcement action by trading standards officers will follow during the next few weeks.

"I am pleased that Middlesbrough is taking the lead in using these new powers,'' he said.

"We have always argued that if we had the tools we could do the job. This is just the sort of action we need to curb anti-social behaviour and to make everyone, including retailers, accept their responsibilities.''

He added: "I would like to thank all those concerned residents who come forward with evidence.

"When our communities stand together we can take positive action to curb this anti social behaviour.''

Police Superintendent Graham Strange, chairman of the multi-agency Crime and Disorder Neighbourhood Nuisance Task Force, said: "The anti-social behaviour caused by young people drinking alcohol in parks, bus shelt- ers, school grounds and elsewhere could not happen if irresponsible shopkeepers were not willing to supply the drink.''

Courts can fine offending retailers £1,000 and even take their licence.

Middlesbrough council also has adult drinkers in its sights and is adopting a designated driver scheme, devised by the drinks industry's sensible drinking promotional panel, the Portman Group.

Several Middlesbrough pubs have agreed to sell cut- price soft drinks to people in groups appointed as designated drivers who can show a specially designed key ring to prove they are transporting friends around the town