A THIRTEEN-year-old girl sent to make a test purchase of alcohol from an off-licence wasn't challenged by staff, except to be asked: "Do you want a bag?"

Blackburn magistrates heard the girl bought a bottle of Chekov Ice and a bottle of Blue WKD at a time when the owner of the Clitheroe shop didn't even have a licence.

Julie Anne Thompson, 41, of Park Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to selling alcohol without a licence. Her son, Andrew Haworth, 23, of Whalley Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to selling liquor to a person under 18 years of age.

They were each given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £55 costs. A charge against Thompson that she allowed the sale of liquor to a person under the age of 18 was dismissed.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said police had been keeping observations on Corkers off-licence in Whalley Road prior to using the 13-year-old girl to make a test purchase. The girl went into the shop where Haworth was serving and bought the two bottles of drink. A plain clothes police officer had also entered the shop and observed the transaction.

"The only question the girl was asked was if she wanted a bag," said Mrs Reed.

Roger Pickles, defending, said Thompson had only just bought the off-licence at the time of the offence and had thought the previous licence covered her until she had made the necessary applications. At the time of the offence she was not in the shop. She had asked her son to mind the shop while she went to the wholesalers.

"Thinking about it now Mr Haworth says he would put the girl's age at between 16 and 18 but unfortunately he didn't think about it at the time," said Mr Pickles. He said that as a result of the incident Mrs Thompson had shut the shop. She had taken advice from police and had now obtained a protection order and the off-licence had re-opened.