POLICE in Stockton Heath and Appleton seized more than 100 cans of beer in just two hours last month.

Between 7pm and 9pm on a Friday night, Community Action Team (CAT) officers confiscated an estimated £150 worth of alcohol from teenagers and poured away several litres.

A dozen open bottles of vodka, super strong cider and alcopops were poured down the drain in front of the under-age drinkers, whose parents were informed.

Sergeant Ian Roe, of Stockton Heath CAT, said: "Kids rip off the labels from bottles of booze in an attempt to disguise what they are carrying, but we know what it is.

"When under-age drinkers see us on patrol they expect us to confiscate their alcohol. It's the 18-year-olds who are surprised when they realise that we have the power to seize alcohol from them if they are with under-18s who have either consumed alcohol, or who are drinking it at the time.

"The 18-year-olds also think they have the right to come back at a later date and claim it back, but they can't."

Sgt Roe continued: "We usually contact the parents to inform them but I don't think they perceive the scale of the problem."

PC Simon Lowe, who was on duty that evening, recalls confiscating alcohol from one 18-year-old on three separate occasions on the same night.

He said: "As soon as they see us they either run off and abandon what they've got, or they just stand there and know that we'll seize the alcohol."

Sgt Roe added that under-age drinking has a negative effect on the whole community because the consequences often involve incidents of disorder and criminal damage.

Together with high visibility uniformed patrols, CAT officers are reminding off-licences that it is an offence to sell alcohol to someone under 18. Meanwhile, trading standards officers have been carrying out test purchases on shops and off-licences.

The penalty for buying alcohol for someone under 18 carries a maximum fine of £1,000.

Warrington's CATs will continue to target under-age drinkers, as part of the Operation Yellow Card and Operation Negator strategies, to curb drink-related disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Anyone with information about crime can contact Cheshire Police on 01244 350 000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.