A POLICE crackdown on the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers has been hailed a success.

A number of off-licence premises in County Durham have had permission to sell alcohol withdrawn by magistrates in the past week, including one shop paying the penalty when it appeared before a court in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

Police used teenagers aged 14 and 15 in covert operations to secure evidence against rogue vendors.

The youngsters, who were described as "looking their age", were able to buy alcohol on at least three occasions in each shop while an undercover police officer was on the premises.

The Londis shop in Tow Law, General Dealers Store in Low Willington, and Spar shop in Wolsingham all had licences revoked by magistrates after video evidence was used in court.

Police launched the clampdown after people from communities in Crook, Willington and Weardale raised concerns about underage drinking.

Anti-social behaviour, noise and a concern for youngsters' welfare sparked a series of initiatives to tackle the problem.

Police officers contacted owners of liquor licences to work in partnership on the scheme before employing test purchasing tactics to weed out premises which continued to sell alcohol illegally.

Inspector Graham Hall, of Crook Police, said: "Prior to the initiative, we liaised with all local licensees to highlight the problem so we could work with them in tackling it.

"But because certain people haven't taken this advice on board then unfortunately they have been prosecuted in this case.

"This is something we are intending to continue throughout the area with a view to working with the public to tackle the problem.

"We are not prepared to let it go by without doing something about it."

Police had the permission of the parents of teenagers used to buy the alcohol.

The youths were briefed on the circumstances in which they could purchase the alcohol and were ordered to give their ages if asked.

In each test purchase operation the youngsters were never once challenged about their age.

Insp Hall said: "If licensees are ever in doubt as to the age of a person they should simply refuse."