DRINK-related violence has plummeted in Sophie Lancaster's hometown since her murder, it has been revealed.

Police in Bacup have dealt with just one incident of violence involving alcohol-fuelled teens since 20-year-old Sophie was murdered last August.

But police remain concerned that youngsters are still using the scene of the attack, Stubbylee skate park, as a place to congregate at night while drinking.

And as part of the fight against under age drinking, police are introducing dip testing kits so that they can see if teens are hiding alcohol in soft drink bottles.

Sophie, of King Street, died two weeks after she was kicked in the head during the horrific attack last August.

She had been trying to protect her boyfriend, 21-year-old Robert Maltby, who was also repeatedly punched and kicked by a gang of five teens.

Brendan Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, was found guilty of her murder on Thursday. 16-year-old Ryan Herbert, of Rosendale Crescent, had already pleaded guilty to murder.

The pair will be sentenced on April 28.

Officers believe that the high-profile of the case has led youngsters to question their behaviour and resulted in a massive drop in violent crime.

Sgt Gordon McGeechan, Rossendale police, said that in the six months since Sophie's death there had been only one teen-related violent incident in Bacup.

He said: "Previously there were concerns that teenagers were targeting people when they were drunk. They wanted to make a reputation for themselves but it's not hard being in a gang and picking on an individual.

"After Sophie was attacked we sent more patrols to the park, but it has been quiet since then. I think young people know they shoudn't be there, are aware of what happened and are thinking twice about what they do."

He added: "Since Sophie's death and the media fallout young people don't want to raise their profiles like Harris and Herbert. They have seen what has happened to them, know that they are facing lengthy sentences and don't want that to happen to them. I hope that people have learnt from what happened to Sophie - and her killers."

On the continuing underage drinking problem, Sgt McGeechan said: "I don't think Bacup is unique in experiencing this problem. It is a scene that is depicted in towns and cities across the country.

"We have seized substantial quantities of alcohol from teenagers in Bacup.

"It comes down to the question of why these children are out so late at night. It is tragic that they are allowed to roam the streets and that parents don't care where they are or what they are up to."

On the dip testing, he said: "It is usually girls disguising vodka and coke in a plastic bottle.

"This will help us put a stop to that.

"We have also got to carry on doing what we are doing - targeting off licences that sell to youngsters and people who go in and buy alcohol on behalf of kids."