TRADING standards chiefs have vowed to step up the fight against shopkeepers selling booze to children after a Pendle shopkeeper sold alcohol to a 14-year-old boy.

Mohammed Mazar pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to an under aged person after trading standards officers carried out a test purchase at Crown Off-licence, Colne.

Reedley Magistrates heard how the boy visited the shop in Albert Road, on August 22 last year.

The bench was told a sales assistant employed by Mazar served the boy alcohol without asking how old he was or asking for identification.

At the hearing Mazar was fined £250 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

David Johnnie, Lancashire County Council's principal officer for the enforcement of age-restricted legislation, said under the Licensing Act 1964 the licensee was responsible for any breach of the law.

He added trading standards officers were now carrying out more test purchases following recent grants of £50,000 from the Home Office and £10,000 from Lancashire Drug Action Team.

Mr Johnnie said: "We are not out to trick or coerce licensees or their staff to sell to our child volunteers.

"The courts have decided that test purchasing is a legitimate way of establishing whether retailers are taking their legal responsibilities seriously.

"Grants from the Home Office under their Blueprint project and the Lancashire Drug Action Team have allowed us to mount test-purchasing operations as often as we like.

"There is a greater likelihood now than ever before that a failed test purchase will result in court action."