WHEN juvenile nuisance and disorder are the bane of so many neighbourhoods already, some people are not only fuelling this curse, but actually making a profit from it.

For, just as is said by Police Sergeant Dave Fleming, chasing up the problem, alcohol is frequently a key factor in loutish and bad behaviour by youngsters that makes so many lives a misery.

By law, the under-age hooligans are too young to drink or buy alcoholic drink. But it seems the law is being flouted on a considerable scale in East Lancashire if a crackdown currently being waged in Padiham is any guide.

In response to residents' complaints, police, together with Trading Standards officers, made test purchases at shops and off-licences - and found five out of seven sold alcohol to the under-aged.

Now, their owners face action which could entail hefty fines and even loss of their licences to sell drink. All other shops and off-sales premises are also being warned.

With the extent of juvenile nuisance as it is, this drive is clearly needed and it needs to be backed up by strong, deterrent punishment from the courts. For this snapshot has proved what was already evident - that drink is too easily acquired by under-age youngsters and too many rogue shopkeepers are happy to sell it, without concern about the effects.

They should be hit hard.