POLICE have welcomed a decision by councillors to suspend the drinks licence of a newsagent caught selling alcohol to under-age youngsters.

Derwentside District Council's alcohol and entertainment licensing sub-committee issued a three-month suspension after hearing that the business run by Paramjit Singh, in Front Street, Dipton, was monitored by officers last year.

They found that drink was sold to local youngsters aged under ten and, on one occasion, drink was served to adults at 12.35am, outside the shop's licensed hours.

Police kept watch on the premises rather than use a test purchase scheme because some shops will only sell drink to youngsters who they know are local.

In test purchase schemes volunteer under-age youngsters are sent to buy drink from pubs and off-licences, but have to give their true age if they are challenged.

Police licensing officer Sergeant Tim Robson said the village, like many others, had a problem with anti-social behaviour caused by teenagers who had been drinking and has an order banning drinking in the street.

He said officers had clearance under the Regulatory Investigatory and Police Powers Act to watch the store and saw 14 and 16-year-olds buying alcohol on three occasions. Mr Singh, who lives on the premises, has 21 days to lodge an appeal and can continue selling alcohol until that deadline.

He said the people he sold to were 18 and that he had asked them for proof of age.

Councillors ordered that measures recommended by the police, including staff training, using qualified staff and having a working CCTV system, should be implemented.