A drive against the illegal sale of alcohol to children in Derbyshire has shown many shops are flouting the law.

More than a quarter of the county's off licences visited by undercover Trading Standards officers in the last six months sold alcohol to children.

Teenage volunteers were used to go into shops to buy drink.

The county council's cabinet said the results were "extremely worrying".

No excuse

The county's campaign started in June, and since then dozens of spot checks have been carried out.

Teenage volunteers, chosen so they could not be mistaken for over 18, were sent into off licences to ask for alcohol.

Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for public protection Councillor Eric Swain said: "These latest statistics are extremely worrying, especially considering that all off licences received a comprehensive information pack explaining their legal obligations and warning about our enforcement activities.

"There is no excuse whatsoever.

"The sale of alcohol to young people can cause serious health problems and fuels anti-social behaviour.

"Our enforcement activities will continue.

Trading standards officers are now warning traders they could face fines of up to �1,000 as well as lose their licences to sell alcohol.

They are now asking people around the county to report traders they suspect of selling drink to people under age.