A MAJOR operation to crackdown on the underage sale of alcohol in Droitwich Spa has been hailed as a success.

Over the last month town groups, councils and police have attempted to tackle the on-going problem with a number of schemes.

The latest campaign has indicated that the Spa clampdown could already be having a positive effect.

It saw young volunteers, accompanied by trading standard officers, trying to buy alcohol in nine town shops.

In each of the stores the youngsters were turned away after shopkeepers refused to serve them.

The shops were identified as targets for the survey as they were near areas where young people were reported to be acting anti-socially.

Operations manager, Simon Wilkes, said: "We are extremely pleased that the underage sales message is getting through to shopkeepers and would like to congratulate the people involved in the test purchase.

"However, we would like to remind anyone who sells alcohol that it is important to remain vigilant and continue to operate the Challenge 21 scheme and seek proof of age from anybody who appears to be under the age of 21."

Worcestershire County Council's under-age sales operation follows other recent schemes to tackle the problem. As well as the most recent operation, a No ID No Sale policy was introduced over a month ago. This scheme encouraged teenagers to apply for a CitizenCard and urged shopkeepers not to sell age-restricted goods to youngsters without one.

That campaign was quickly followed a few weeks later by the police who decided to increase patrols of 'no drinking' areas in the town.

Sergeant Mark Smith, from Droitwich police, said: "We have worked hard with our local trading standards colleagues to identify premises which might sell alcohol to under-age youngsters and to tackle the problem of under-age drinking.

"We're very pleased that the initiatives taken, and the No ID No Sale campaign, are now understood and are working and that shop staff are now taking seriously the need always to check ages and the IDs of would-be under-age drinkers." Sgt Smith also added that despite the success police will not be complacent and will continue to work with trading standards during the coming months to ensure the problem continues to be tackled.