ALCOHOL was sold to 14-year-old girls three times in ten minutes at a large grocery store.

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

The three police-supervised test purchases were made from two checkout assistants, who were both aged under-18, on a busy Sunday afternoon during the run-up to Christmas last year.

North Durham licensing bench was told that one of the check-out girls had just been taken on and had not received any proper training about licensing regulations 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, representing the force, said Miss Marshall, who was duty manager at the time, has taken voluntary redundancy.

Miss Trenerry is on maternity leave but has no intention of remaining as a licence holder.

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

Mrs Kelly said: "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.

"After much heart-searching, Miss Marshall took voluntary redundancy in August," added Mrs Kelly.

Agreeing to revoke the licences, 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.

North Durham licensing officer Sergeant Tim Robson said large stores have responsibility to ensure proper supervision of staff involved with selling alcohol.

Mr White, who has an interim licence, applies for a full transfer of the licence at the court, next Tuesday.