The Downland Drive store failed the test three times in three weeks

The Tesco Express stores in Downland Drive and Dobbins Place, Crawley and another in Worthing were caught selling to under-18s sent in by police.

Sussex Police has asked local councils to review the three licences.

Tesco said any staff who failed a test carried out by police underwent retraining on underage alcohol sales.

The test purchases were carried out in October as part of a nationwide crackdown on underage drinking funded by the Home Office.

Three-week period

Sussex Police sent 15-year-old shoppers to try to buy alcohol in various stores, including Tesco.

The Downland Drive Tesco Express was one of only two shops in England which sold alcohol to underage purchasers on three occasions over a three-week period.

"We have to remember that 13 children a day are admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol abuse and we have to stop that," said Jean Irving, Sussex Police's violent crime reduction manager.

"My personal thoughts are that if Tesco put as much emphasis on training to prevent underage sales as they do on training on the Clubcard then we would be able to prevent underage sales."

Staff training

Police have now asked Crawley and Worthing Borough Councils to revoke the three stores' alcohol licences for up to three months.

A spokesperson for Tesco said it took the issue of underage drinking very seriously.

The "Think 21" scheme, where anyone who looked under 21 was asked for ID, operated in all its outlets.

"Think 21 is implemented through staff training, customer information both in the beers, wines and spirits aisles and at checkouts, posters in staff areas and rigorous in-store processes including till prompts," it said.

"Where stores fail a test carried out by local trading standards or police, staff undergo retraining on our Think 21 policy so they are in no doubt about the rules that apply to the sale of alcohol in our stores."