POLICE are warning retailers who sell alcohol to youngsters they could face prosecution.

Officers in Darlington are cracking down on the sale of alcohol to youngsters in an effort to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour across the town.

Inspector Sue Collingwood said they would be carrying out test purchases at various establishments selling alcohol, from off-licences to supermarkets, in an attempt to clamp down on the problem.

She said: "The vast majority of licencees are responsible retailers, but there is no getting away from the fact the kids are getting alcohol from somewhere.

"The sheer volume of discarded bottles being found, and confiscated from youngsters by our officers shows that.

"Responsible retailers have nothing to worry about, but someone is selling alcohol to these underage people and we need to put a stop to it."

She said some youngsters might be getting adults to buy the alcohol for them, but that was also illegal.

"In the first instance we need to gather evidence on these premises which are selling alcohol to minors and then we will be deciding what action to take, whether that be naming and shaming them or taking legal action, we have a range of possibilities open to us," said Insp Collingwood.