Teenage spies in off-licence sting

Child spies are to be used by trading standards officers to crack down on shops selling alcohol to young people in Wigan.

Youngsters are to go undercover to buy alcohol in shops suspected of selling to children.

The trading standards team say the two-prong attack will begin by offer help and advice to off-licence staff to prevent alcohol getting into the hands of children.

The trading standards team will then follow up by recruiting young people to go undercover and try to buy alcohol at off-licenses in the targeted areas.

The move comes after the results of a recent survey showed that out of 22 off licences visited at random, 10 illegally sold alcohol to children.

The first areas being targeted are Pemberton and Hindley.

Off-licences caught selling alcohol to children face a £1,000 fine and the loss of their licence.