TOUGH new checks are being introduced to bars in Blackburn town centre in a bid to crack down on underage drinking.

Bar staff are being told to ask customers for identification if they look like they are aged under 25.

Those who fail to produce it will be refused service.

Pub bosses said they had decided to introduce ‘Challenge 25’ after the death of Adam Rogers, 24, following an alleged attack on a night out in the town in July.

Councillors and police welcomed the scheme, which they said could help encourage older people back into the town centre.

The checks were the idea of those behind the Make Blackburn Safer campaign, which has attracted thousands of members on social networking website Facebook in its bid to cut violence in the town.

Kirk Bullen, who works as a DJ in town-centre club Baroque and is running Make Blackburn Safer, said: “There are a lot of underage people who try to get into bars and pubs and this is one way of cracking down on it.

“One of the problems is that people under 18 do look 18, but with Challenge 25 there is no excuse.

“I’ve also had it said to me by quite a lot of older people that they don’t go out into Blackburn anymore because they feel so old around the underage kids that come out.

“So by eliminating that, it will also help the local businesses.”

Chris Wooddissee, manager of F J Nicols in Northgate, said the premises involved in the town’s Bar U pubwatch scheme - which includes almost every venue - had decided to introduce Challenge 25.

He said: “After Adam’s death, it really woke everyone up to the situation.

“The vast majority of town centre clubs, bars and pubs are behind the idea and are going to implement it.

“It gives you a zone of safety. It makes it 10 times easier for us to monitor the situation.

“Some members were a bit confused at first because they felt it meant barring all under 25s, but that’s exactly what it isn’t.

“All it means is that if we think you’re under 25, we will ask you to give ID. If you don’t then you get knocked back.

“I think it will sort out a lot of issues regarding underage drinking in Blackburn town centre.”

Coun Kate Hollern, leader of the Labour party on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I think it’s an excellent idea.

“It’s very difficult to guess the age of young people these days.

“Hopefully it encourage older people back into the town centre which will be good for business.”

Steve Finley, Blackburn’s police licensing officer, said a lot of retailers, such as supermarkets, already used Challenge 25 and that it had proved effective.

He said: “There is not a big problem if underage drinking in Blackburn, but there have been some high-profile closures and we regularly carry out test purchases. We like to think we’re on top of it.

“If Challenge 25 can promote people to bringing their ID, then it’s always a bonus and it’s something we would encourage.”

Bar staff can get an on-the-spot £80 fine for serving underage people and the licensee can be fined up to £2,000.

A 16-year-old youth from Rishton has been charged with manslaughter and violent disorder in connection with the death of Mr Rogers