MORE than 100 shop assistants in Lancashire have each been fined £80 after being caught selling alcohol to children.

Police officers in the county have issued 115 fines in the past few weeks as part of a crackdown on underage drinking in the run up to Christmas.

The 115 £80 fines handed out equals 12.5 per cent of the total issued across the country and make Lancashire police one of the most prolific forces at using the penalties.

Inspector John Clucas said that he could not supply a breakdown of the areas where the fines were issued.

But he said shop assistants had been fined at all types of businesses that sold alcohol, ranging from supermarkets to smaller community shops across the county.

He added: "Most of the establishments fined for selling to underage drinkers were caught during test purchase operations, but this exercise has clearly demonstrated the willingness of many premises and vendors to sell to children.

"In equal measure we are demonstrating our determination to deal with them and issue fixed penalties to those who flout the law.

"We are very pleased with the results so far and will be continuing our efforts to ensure alcohol-related crime and disorder across the county is reduced."

Inspector Clucas said that he hoped the fines would send the message out to other shop assistants.

He added: "When we fine them they usually give a lot of excuses, such as I was busy or they looked old enough.

"But what we are asking is that people start to challenge anyone who looks to be aged under 21 as we think that is a sensible approach.

"We want to send out this message because we will be doing future test purchases and looking to issue fines again if we find people selling to under 18s."