A LEYLAND shopkeeper is taking strong measures to stop under age drinkers trying to get their hands on booze from his shop by putting up a £200 reward to catch people who buy it for them.

Matthew Tomlinson, manager of Thorougoods, Canberra Road, fears youths are getting their hands on alcohol despite liquor not being sold to under 18s in his shop.

Mr Tomlinson, who runs the newsagents and off-licence, believes youngsters are getting older people to buy booze on their behalf.

Now he is planning to hand over the reward for information and evidence leading to the prosecution of people suspected of buying alcohol for children.

He said: "We are vigilant and we want to make the public aware of that. If there is any doubt about the age of a person buying alcohol or if the person looks like he is buying for kids then we will not sell it."

Mr Tomlinson, who is also a Leyland Central councillor, said his staff were trained to identify under age drinkers and have been taught about reading body language.

He claims it is policy in his shop to ask for identification if a person does not look 21 years old.

"This includes a passport, a driving licence or a Portman card for proof of age, said Mr Tomlinson.

"We had a man in here recently who bought half a dozen bottles of alcopops with loose change and then came back about 30 minutes later to do the same again.

"He was probably buying them for under 18s so I refused to serve him the second time. If we can prosecute people like that, I will give a reward."

Despite the problems Mr Tomlinson believes there is less nuisance on the town's streets since police began Operation Calm, seizing alcohol from underage drinkers and auctioning it off for community projects.

Inspector Neil Sladen, who heads the police operation, said: "Our work is ongoing and I fully support Mr Tomlinson's move. Anything that deters underage drinkers assists us in reducing crime and juvenile nuisance."