PARENTS are being urged to keep their drinks cabinets under lock and key after a month-long crackdown on under-age tipplers.

Police teams across Nelson, Colne and West Craven seized more than 100 litres of beer, wines and spirits after conducting a series of sweeps at known trouble spots in the borough.

But among the usual cheap cider and super-strength lager, wine boxes and spirits such as brandy and rum were discovered.

Police chiefs believe this proves that youngsters are sneaking alcohol out of their own homes, rather than purchasing booze from rogue off-licences.

Sgt John Fryer, of Pendle police, said officers and council licensing officials had conducted a number of test purcashing exercise at various stores in Pendle.

Under such initiatives teenage volunteers are sent into targeted premises by investigators, to see if shop assistants or premises supervisors are checking young drinkers for identification.

Sgt Fryer said 19 operations had been carried out and all off licences had passed with flying colours.

He added: "We have evidence that the message is getting through and they are all using the Challenge 21 scheme to check for identification.

"But we are concerned that children are still obtaining alcohol from home because we have seized wine boxes and bottles of stronger spirits.

"So we are asking parents to keep an eye on their drinks cabinets and ask questions if anything is going missing.

"And if people are outside shops and they are asked to buy alcohol on behalf of someone younger, they should refuse, as they will be committing a criminal offences themselves."

Police fear that older teenagers may also be helping their younger friends to bypass the law by buying cheap cider and lager for them.

Sgt Fryer added: "Young people who have been drinking can commit crimes, and get a criminal record which will blight their lives, or become victims of crimes themselves."