THREE off-licence employees in Lancaster have been hit with £80 fines for selling alcohol to under-age customers.

The penalty notices followed a weekend sting' operation mounted by trading standards officials and police.

But the result disap-pointed the boys in blue, according to spokesman Sgt Martin Pearson.

"Despite the best efforts of police and trading standards officers to ham-mer the message home about under age sales, it would seem some off-licences are just not listening," he told the Citizen.

"The operation deliberately targeted these areas because the police complaints records identified them as hotspots for under age sales.

"We are all aware of the potential for disruption and misery that selling alcohol to people under-18 can cause, and ultimately it us up to the off-licences to accept their responsibility."

He goes on: "There are a number of proof-of-age schemes so there really are no excuses for selling alcohol to people under age. It's inexcusable, unacceptable and just not worth it.

"Thankfully, the vast majority of off-licences in the area act in a responsible way and we would urge others to think again before we come calling."

Trading standards officers warn that they are preparing more undercover operations in Lancaster in the near future with adults also warned not to buy alcohol for youngsters.

Sgt Pearson points out: "We do know that some youngsters hang around off licences and ask adults to buy alcohol for them. Adults should always refuse because if they are caught they will also be hit with fines."