AN undercover taxi was used as part of a crackdown on underage drinking in Blackburn.

Police confiscated 32 bottles of beer and cider and five bottles of wine from groups of teenagers aged between 15 and 17.

Officers also seized a Cannabis grinder from one of the teenagers and issued 20 youth referral forms.

The crackdown followed complaints from residents in Feniscowles and Cherry Tree.

Officers used a mobile CCTV unit and went undercover in a taxi in a bid to drive down anti-social behaviour and identify the culprits.

The operation involved town centre licensing officers, the neighbourhood policing team, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Trading Standards department and the Safer Travel Unit.

Licensing Officer PC Andy Duxbury said the police would continue to take action to prevent further anti social behaviour.

He said: “Operations such as this are successfully helping to reduce crime.”