POLICE targeting shops in Pendle selling alcohol to under-age drinkers have said there has been a vast improvement during the past three weeks.

Test purchases carried out in various areas of Pendle on September 28 showed that eight out of the 18 shops checked had been illegally selling to children. But in another exercise carried out at the weekend only two out of 22 outlets had sold alcohol illegally.

Sergeant Karen Edwards, of Nelson Police, said: "It is very good news that this time there has been a reduction in the number of premises selling to youngsters under the legal age limit but we will be keeping up the pressure.

The latest round of test purchases were carried out in Nelson, Brierfield and Barrowford.