A THREE-PRONGED approach involving the police, trading standards and the fire brigade was used in Darwen in the run-up to bonfire weekend in a bid to stamp out trouble with teenagers.

Sgt Andrea Bradbury, of Darwen police, said they had been in constant liaison with the fire brigade and trading standards and over the past couple of weeks special constables had been patrolling the streets.

She said: "Special constable co-ordinator Kelly Lamster has been putting on as many specials as possible to target the main areas where juvenile nuisance happens.

"Specials have been going into shops which sell alcohol and fireworks and one juvenile has been reported for a firework offence.

"Officers have also sent a lot of letters in connection with the juvenile referral scheme."

She added there had been a visible presence by the specials in Darwen -- especially over the weekends.

Trading Standards have also been in the area carrying out test purchasing exercises.

Senior Trading Standards officer for Darwen Paul Heward said they had visited around 10 shops in Darwen and they were reasonably happy that shopkeepers were not selling to under 18s.

He explained the test purchasing exercises involved sending in a child volunteer to try to buy something like a rocket.