POLICE have praised supermarket staff whose quick thinking led to a woman being prosecuted for supplying alcohol to under 18s.

The woman was spotted in Sainsburys, North End, Sedgefield Village, buying a large quantity of alcohol which she handed to a group of males outside the store.

Staff reported the incident, which happened on Friday, June 19, to police and CCTV from the store was used to track her down.

She was issued with an £80 fixed penalty ticket for supplying alcohol to under age people.

Sergeant Brian O’Conner from the Sedgefield Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "This is an excellent example how police and local off licensed premises are seeking to stamp out the sale and supply of alcohol to persons under age."

Meanwhile police in Newton Aycliffe have expressed concerns that parents are buying alcohol to give to their underage children.

A spokesman for the Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team warned that this was still an offence and that parents would be prosecuted.

One such prosecution has already taken place resulting in another fixed penalty fine.