TIME is being called on shop keepers who sell alcohol to children.

Cleveland Police say they will root out and prosecute off licences supplying alcohol to underage drinkers.

Police and Middlesbrough Council community wardens have launched a joint operation to crack down on drink fuelled anti-social behaviour in the town.

Only last week, police officers confiscated 15 litres of alcohol from a crowd of rowdy youngsters who had paid £1 for a 70cl bottle of wine.

Anxious residents have reported as many as 60 youngsters congregating in Middlesbrough's Longlands area, throwing empty bottles into the road.

PC Colin Whitfield, who is co-ordinating the crackdown, said: "The drink of choice amongst the kids is a 7.5 per cent wine which costs around £1.10p and they are buying it from some local off licences.

"Irresponsible shops are selling vast amounts of alcohol to these youngsters and we will be prosecuting any off licences guilty of selling alcohol to underage kids.

"They should also be wary of selling such large amounts, as it is clear that older members of the group are either selling or passing on the drink to younger ones.''

Letters are to be sent to parents explaining the problems being caused.

PC Whitfield said: "They must be going home either drunk or smelling of drink and it is about time that parents took responsibility for the actions of their children.

"Some must realise when their children come home smelling of alcohol and being the worse for wear, they have been up to no good."

Bill Thompson, supervisor of the community wardens, said: "These kids are not only a nuisance, their behaviour is very dangerous, running across the road while drunk and throwing bottles on to the road - it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt."

John Wells, group leader with the council's trading standards department, said: "There is no doubt that underage drinking fuels anti social behaviour and we are going to be particularly vigilant throughout the year on underage sales. We have a range of methods to detect and clamp down on this.