ALCOHOL was sold to 14-year-old girls three times in ten minutes at a Consett grocery store, a court heard.

Licensing justices were shown police video footage of pairs of girls entering Kwik Save in Front Street, and leaving after buying bottles of alcopops.

The three police-supervised test purchases were made from two check-out attendants, both aged under-18, on a busy Sunday afternoon in the run-up to last Christmas.

North Durham licensing bench was told one of the check-out girls had just been taken on and had not received any proper training about licensing regulations, at the time, because the supervisor responsible was on sick leave.

The bench was hearing an application by Durham Police to revoke the licence held by Julie Marshall and Sharon Trenerry.

Charles Holland, for the force, said Miss Marshall, duty manager at the time, had since taken voluntary redundancy, while Miss Trenerry was on maternity leave and had no intention of remaining as a licence holder.

Neither woman was in court, but solicitor Judith Kelly said Miss Trenerry had been on sick leave, while Miss Marshall had worked continuously for several days, but was off that afternoon.

"Both have been extremely concerned about this. They greatly regret these incidents and were very surprised at them.

"After the incidents Miss Marshall worked very hard to improve things in the store.

"Police are now pleased at the enhanced training which is continuing under the new manager, Sean White."

She said neither opposed the police's revocation application.

Agreeing to revoke the licences from the two women, panel chairman Hilary Cross said: "At the time training and supervision was totally inadequate and, as a result, we find they are no longer fit and proper persons to hold a licence."

She added that it should act as 'a reminder' to other licensees of their responsibilities.

After the hearing North Durham licensing officer Sgt Tim Robson said large stores must ensure proper supervision of staff relating to sales of alcohol to young people.

The store was one of three premises from 31 tested to fail three of the undercover police-supervised purchases by under-age customers in the Derwentside area, as part of Operation Weasel II, last December.

* New Kwik Save store manager Sean White, recently granted an interim license, applies for a full transfer of the licence at the court, on Tuesday.