TEENAGERS in a park -some of whom were drinking alcohol - faced a dressing down from their parents after police officers called them in.

Inspector Paul Anderson said officers swooped at the park near Low Flatts Road, Chester-le-Street, at 6.40pm on Friday, after reports of young people drinking.

He said: "About 40 teenagers aged between 15 and 16 years were stopped and alcohol confiscated. They were lined up and their parents were telephoned and told to come to the park and to pick them up. After being suitably chastised by their parents, they were taken away."

Insp Anderson warned off-licences to check that young people were over the age of 18 before selling them alcohol.