The group, aged between 15 and 17, were discovered in the Black Swan Pub in Horncastle after residents complained.

Ten of the teenagers caught drinking alcohol have been fined while the licensees have been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Lincolnshire police say the swoop was part of a wider crackdown on bad behaviour in pubs.

Insp Daryl Pearce said: "We have a good relationship with the licensees in the area.

"We want to work together to try and solve this problem through education rather than enforcement."

Insp Price promised to "pay a visit" to other pubs in the area if he received more complaints about underage drinking.

Those caught in the pub at 2140 GMT on January 21 were taken to the local police station to be collected by their parents.

Police targeted the pub after complaints from nearby residents about drunk and unruly youths.