• Police staged clampdown in Coalville area

• Operation lasted over three nights

• Those businesses who failed the test have been warned they risk prosecution

A North West Leicestershire Police operation to test businesses selling alcohol to teenagers underage saw six fail.

A total of 26 premises were visited by test purchasers under the age of 18.

Across three nights, between 15 and 17 December, the teenagers attempted to buy alcohol from off-licence stores, supermarkets and pubs in Coalville and the surrounding villages.

Of the six who failed the test, three were revisited and passed on the second occasion.

Staff at all six businesses will be required to undertake further training around the sale of alcohol.

Sergeant Jon Sharpe from Coalville's dedicated neighbourhood team, said: "The majority of the businesses we checked passed without issue, asking the teenagers for ID and then refusing the sale.

"Of the six who did sell alcohol to our underage volunteers, we were able to revisit three of them and they passed on the second attempt. Staff at all six businesses will now have to complete and pass a training course around the sale of alcohol to under 18s.

"It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 and the Challenge 25 scheme is in place to encourage staff selling alcohol to request ID from anyone they believe to be aged 25 years or under.

"Businesses risk being prosecuted, fined and could lose their licence if they do not challenge people they think are underage."