Fixed penalty notices were given to those caught

A three-month campaign in Cumbria using 14 to 15-year-olds as secret shoppers found 16 out of 59 traders tested sold them alcohol.

The campaign came after a survey of 13,000 teenagers across the north-west of England.

It found more than 60% of 14 to 17-year-olds in Cumbria drink alcohol illegally each week.

The campaign was run by Cumbria County Council's trading standards department with Cumbria Police. Fixed penalty notices were issued to businesses who sold alcohol to under 18s.

'Causes misery'

It was part of the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign, run by the North West's five police forces and 22 trading standards teams.

Across the region, 379 of the 1,076 businesses tested sold alcohol to children.

Phil Ashcroft, head of Cumbria trading standards, said: "The message is clearly not getting through to some retailers - you cannot sell alcohol to young people under 18.

"It is irresponsible and illegal and we are determined to bring appropriate sanctions to bear on those traders who flout the law.

"Because of the misery this offence causes right across our communities we will continue to carry out test purchases to ensure the law is being obeyed."