AROUND 30 teenagers were left outside in the rain on Sunday night instead of being able to enjoy a Christmas party with their Tesco colleagues.

The 16- and 17-year-olds each paid £3 to join in the festive fun at Chicago Rock Cafe, together with the rest of the employees, but when they arrived at the pub on St Austin's Lane, they were told that they wouldn't be allowed in.

The father of one 17-year-old, who works at the new Tesco supermarket on Winwick Road, said: "These teenagers were left standing outside Chicago Rock Cafe for two-and-a-half hours because they didn't have any identification.

"They got absolutely soaked, only to be told just before 9pm, by a Tesco manager, that they would have to go home.

"Some of the girls were in tears and they had to ring their parents or get a taxi home.

"There was no mention of them needing ID or that there might be a problem."

A spokesman for Tesco apologised for the "inconvenience and embarrassment that might have been caused by the misunderstanding" and hoped that "it would not put a downer on Christmas for the people involved".

A spokesman for Chicago Rock Cafe said that it doesn't allow entry to anyone under the age of 18, regardless of whether they would be drinking alcohol.