An undercover 'sting' by trading standards has revealed Blackpool is no longer one of the North West's hotspots for underage booze sales.

The two-month 'mystery shopper' style operation - carried out by the resort's trading standards officials and Nightsafe police officers - showed a 40 per cent decrease in the number of licencees and licensed retailers illegally selling alcohol to teenagers since last year.

According to statistics revealed by the Home Office on Monday a total of 68 licensed venues and shops were targeted by youngsters, clearly aged 14 to 16, recruited by the team to purchase alcohol while wearing hidden surveillance cameras and devices.

Just 14.7 per cent of retailers and licencees broke the law this year compared with last year's figure of 55 per cent, beating former fellow hotspots - Liverpool and Manchester - who were found to have illegal alcohol sales totals of 36.2 and 25.5 per cent.

The resort's head of trading standards, Tim Coglan, has hailed Blackpool's decrease as "something to be proud of".

Mr Coglan said: "This is such a dramatic decrease.

"Every licencee and licensed retailer who refused to serve our undercover teenagers should be proud of themselves.

"Last year's figures were a huge wake-up call to both trading standards and police. We were among one of the North West's worst areas for this kind of activity.

"But to drop by more than 40 per cent over the last 12 months is incredible and certainly something to be proud of."

The operation was launched after joint research by trading standards and police revealed that more than half of the region's 14-17 year olds illegally drink alcohol bought in pubs, clubs and off licences each week.

It follows new increased penalties for underage alcohol sales which were introduced by the Government in April 2005.

Under these retailers can face fines of up to £1,000 if caught selling alcohol to minors and could have their alcohol license revoked. Any youngsters caught drinking alcohol could also be issued with a £50 fixed penalty notice.

But - despite this year's success - Tim still has serious concerns about underage alcohol sales in the town.

Mr Coglan added: "While the results of this exercise are very positive in many ways, we must not forget that it has also been proven that there are still some licencees out there who do sell alcohol to children.

"We are still facing a battle out there and we want to send out the message to these people that not only will you be targeted by us in the near future but you will be detected, we will apply to revoke your licence and you could face further prosecution.

"There are many forms of photo ID available nowadays including the 'Blackpool Proof of Age' scheme so it is not acceptable to claim ignorance.

"Every licensed retailer should enforce a strict 'no photo ID/no alcohol' policy because it is their responsibility to ensure these goods do not end up in the hands of those not old enough to drink it."

Trading standards and Nightsafe police are organising further undercover operations in the run-up to Christmas and would like to hear of any businesses illegally selling alcohol to youngsters on 01253 478383.