TWO Blackburn off-licences and one pub are to have their licences reviewed after twice being caught selling alcohol to under-age drinkers.

The Awan Food Store, in Mill Hill Bridge Street; The Grove, in Church Street; and Morgan's off-licence, in Livesey Branch Road; are the first premises in the borough to face the reviews for under-age sales under new powers introduced by the Licensing Act 2003, which came into force a year ago.

Police, and Trading Standards officers from Blackburn with Darwen Council, carried out a series of test purchases at these, and other premises, as part of a national enforcement operation, using children who clearly looked under 18 - and who should have been asked to prove their age.

The government-funded operation ran for three weeks in October and licensees at premises which failed to check the children's age in the first week were reminded of their responsibilities under the law.

A second test purchase was made the following week, and 40 premises nationally are now facing licence reviews as a result.

The council is now asking the public if they have been directly affected by any of the premises, and to put their views in writing about the three premises by December 23.

After Christmas it will consider all the evidence and decide whether to take no action, amend the conditions of the licences, or revoke the licences.

The Spar shop, Portland Road, Langho, and the Spar shop, Accrington Road, Burnley, caught out in similar raids involving Lancashire County Council, could also face similar action.