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

Cleveland Police and Trading Standards targeted the shops in an undercover operation as part of a national campaign.

The teenage volunteer visited 11 premises and bought alcohol at five businesses.

At the other six locations, staff did ask the girl for proof of age, while some staff refused to serve her.

The five shops, in Redcar, face a maximum £5,000 fine.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Trading Standards unit took part in two exercises with police in December and January.

Councillor Joyce Benbow, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "These are extremely disappointing results. When we have spent a lot of time and effort trying to educate shop owners 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 ongoing crackdown will continue in the east Cleveland area during next week's half-term holiday.

Trading Standards officer Deborah Holmes said: "The results of these operations are very disappointing.

"We receive complaints regarding certain retailers and we follow those up with test purchasing.

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

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