MORE FAIL ALCOHOL SALE TEST

Police carried out a second round of 'test' purchases in the town just before Christmas.

Earlier there had been a 100 per cent failure rate.

On this occasion a lone 16-year-old girl went into a total of four licensed premises, and attempted to buy alcohol. She was served at two of the premises, and the licencees at both of these were reported to local magistrates.

Officers in plain clothes also spoke to people as they were leaving an off licence. They spoke to one person who was over eighteen years who had purchased alcohol for some youngsters who were outside. This man was issued with an 80 fixed penalty finefor doing this.

Sergeant Dave Price said: 'Following the recent disastrous results in Uckfield, this outcome is slightly better, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.

'There is absolutely no trickery involved here. The object of the exercises is quite simple. We merely want licencees to stop selling alcohol to children. In future operations we will also be targeting adults who buy alcohol to pass to children. This is also an offence, as the Uckfield man found to his cost tonight.'