POLICE confiscated alcohol from 25 youths in a clampdown on underage drinking in Burnley at the weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday the police also handed out 11 juvenile referral forms, which are then sent to their parents and school.

The operation was part of the national Alcohol Enforcement Campaign and also included officers checking off-licences in hotspot areas.

Areas targeted included Briercliffe and Lanehead, Padiham, Rosehill, Burnley Wood and the town centre. The worst place for alcohol-related nuisance involving juveniles was at the youth shelter in Briercliffe.

Inspector Andy Moore said: "This is the first weekend we have done this.

"It has proved to be successful in that most of the confiscations and youth referral forms were handed out on the Friday night, then on Saturday there was nowhere near the same number of juveniles out drinking in these hotspot areas.

"We want to warn people that we will be out there again. This is an on-going campaign and is not going to melt away.

"We would also urge the owners of off-licences to be vigilant and not sell alcohol to youths.

The clampdown was not just targeted at young people. In the town centre, two arrests were made for alcohol-related public order offences and eight fixed penalty notices, which can only be given out to people over the age of 18, were issued for disorder.

The scheme follows on from the successful Nightsafe Operation which saw more than 50 litres of alcohol seized from youths over the spring bank holiday weekend.