POLICE in Great Harwood and Rishton are urging parents to take responsibility for their children's actions after launching a clampdown on underage drinking.

Officers say the scheme has proved a success so far, with co-operation from off-licences, youngsters are still managing to get alcohol by asking older people to buy it for them.

Police say parents should also make sure they know where their children are in the evenings.

Insp Steve Lee said: "Parents must take responsibility for the actions of their children and ensure they are not mixing with the wrong crowd. And, if anybody is asked to buy alcohol for people under 18, they should refuse to do so."

The initiative was launched last week to try to cut the number of incidents of drink-related nuisance in the area after a number of recent complaints about noise when drunken youngsters were congregating on housing estates.

Police said the problem was particularly bad in the Walmsley Street area of Rishton and near the Methodist church, which has had its windows and roof damaged by a group of about 40 vandals.

Anyone suspected of buying alcohol for juveniles will be refused. In both cases details will be passed to the police.

Insp Lee said both undercover and uniformed officers would continue to patrol and arrest youngsters who were drunk or anti-social.

Mark Clayton, of Southworth Street, said: "This has become a problem and we all know of incidents by under age drinking."

Rishton councillor June Butler said: "Councillors are all pleased to see steps being taken to address this problem."