AN off licence has been given a fortnight ban and another shopkeeper has received a rap on the knuckles - despite calls for tougher actions against underage alcohol sales.

Senior councillors are insisting that more severe bans should be imposed on stores where booze is sold to youngsters.

Licensing bosses have now ruled on two applications for reviews by Lancashire Constabulary, where staff had failed undercover ‘sting’ operations, mounted by police, and sold alcohol to teenagers.

Chairman Coun Tony Lambert (Labour) and Couns Justin Birtwistle (Lib Dem) and Derek Dawson (British National Party) ruled that no further action should be taken against Ricky Stuart Wogden, of the Spar store in Melville Street.

But he was ordered to install CCTV at the Spar and maintain a refusals register, detailing incidents when staff decline to sell alcohol to suspected underage customers.

Staff were also told to undertake extra training and adopt the Challenge 21 identification scheme.

Meanwhile Focus Off Licence premises holder Alia Ajaz, was told her booze permit would be suspended for 28 days from July 15.

Committee chairman Coun Anne Kelly (Lib Dem), sitting with Coun Lambert and Coun Ida Carmichael (Conservative) also told the Briercliffe Road shopkeeper that she must update her CCTV, adopt a refusals register and the Challenge 21 scheme.

Coun Darren Reynolds, vice chairman of the leadership and community scrutiny committee, said he thought the punishments should be more severe.

He said: “If staff cannot be trained to identify young teenagers who are trying to get served for alcohol, then they are simply not fit to sell it.

“We know that if youngsters are determined to get served they will find a way around getting it themselves, but we have to tackle every source.

“We do have a problem in Burnley with underage drinkers and it must be addressed with more serious consequences.”

Earlier this year bosses at the Spar store in Accrington Road were given a three-month licensing suspension for similar behaviour.

Liberal Democrat yobs tsar Coun Charlie Briggs had called on the borough’s licensing committee to get tough with shopkeepers who flouted drinks regulations.

He was speaking after a store in Boundary Street, Turf Moor, was given a fortnight suspension from selling booze.