FIVE off-licences are facing prosecution after selling alcohol to a 14-year-old girl.

Cleveland Police and trading standards officials checked out the shops in an undercover operation as part of a national campaign.

The teenage volunteer visited 11 premises, including off-licences, general retailers and national traders, and bought alcohol at five Redcar retailers without any checks.

At the other six locations, staff did ask the girl for proof of age and some staff refused to serve her before she got to the counter.

If prosecuted, the five shops could face fines of up to £5,000.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's trading ttandards unit took part in two joint exercises with police in December and January.

They worked together as part of the nationally-co-ordinated campaign, Alcohol Blitz, to reduce alcohol-related offences.

The council's cabinet member for community safety, Joyce Benbow, said: "These are extremely disappointing results when we have spent a lot of time and effort trying to educate shops about the need to ask for proof of age.

"We have revisited the five premises where alcohol was sold and our officers are currently drawing up reports with a view to prosecution.

"These people should realise that escalating violence in our society has a direct link with alcohol and these people are fuelling the problem."

The crackdown will continue in the East Cleveland area during the half-term holiday.

Trading standards officer Deborah Holmes said: "The results of these operations are extremely disappointing.

"Although this national campaign has come to an end, we will continue to target premises. We receive complaints regarding certain retailers and we follow those up with test purchasing.

"Hopefully, the message will finally get through to owners."

The council is informing retailers how to access Proof of Age cards and updating them on the latest legislation.

Sgt Shaun Quinn, of Cleveland Police's Langbaurgh licensing unit, said: "We will continue to support the action taken by the council and can promise we will thoroughly investigate any licensing applications submitted by offending premises under the 2003 Licensing Act.