A BOOZE ban has been imposed on a Burnley store for the second time after staff were caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers.

Police stopped the Spar store, in Accrington Road, from selling beer, wine and spirits, following a Burnley council licensing hearing in February 2007.

But when workers at the Lowerhouse branch were caught selling lager and Lambrini, in undercover police sting operations, after the store was allowed to serve again, licensing officers asked councillors to review the shop’s licence.

Councillors have agreed to bar owner Kamieshbah Patel and his staff from selling alcohol for three months.

A committee, chaired by Coun Frank Cant, with Couns Tony Lambert and Maureen McCaffrey, also ordered staff to be given extra jobs" target= "_blank">training and new identification checking equipment to be installed.

Staff must also adopt the Challenge 25 scheme and ask for ID if any customers look under that age.

Earlier police counsel Anthony Horne said staff sold Lambrini and lager on three occasions to 16-year-old boys, in test purchasing operations in January 2008, August 2008 and February 2009.

Police had also received various complaints about anti-social behaviour, linked to underage drinking, in the area.

A Londis store, 40 yards away, had refused to sell alcohol in similar test purchasing operations.

Mr Horne added: “Mr Patel was fully aware that these premises attracted a difficult set of youths who would try to get alcohol, when he took these premises on.”

Mr Patel said: “I have 16 cameras in there and I have spent £5,000.

"We always ask for identification.”