SHOP staff are paying the price for selling alcohol to under-age drinkers.

Several till operators have been fined and even sacked from stores across the county after a crackdown on underage drinking.

All were directly involved in selling alcohol to minors sent into stores undercover as part of a combined police and trading standards operation.

Two supermarkets were among stores caught selling to kids at least twice. Out of 20 targeted stores, only eight refused sales to the undercover team.

"Sales that were made cost the till operator involved an £80 fixed penalty fine and, in some cases, their job," said Inspector Damian Sowrey, of Herefordshire Police.

The results of the operation have prompted the police to take a closer look at the extent of underage drinking locally.

Custody figures show many of the county's more prolific teenage troublemakers - particularly with regard to anti-social behaviour - are being brought in drunk.

"They usually keep us busy in the early evenings as door staff are getting good at keeping underagers out of pubs and clubs later on," said Insp Sowrey.

The ten-week undercover operation worked with intelligence gathered by police patrol and local beat officers to target stores suspected of selling alcohol to under 18s, unknowingly or otherwise.

In each case the undercover teens paid cash to buy beers, ciders and alcopops watched by police and trading standards officers. In total, 77 purchases were made.

Three of the stores stung twice belonged to multi-national chains. They were: Aldi, Leominster, Morrisons, Hereford and Texaco service station, Holmer Road, Hereford (store operated by Somerfield).

"Each time one of our buyers was able to buy alcohol, the member of staff who made the sale was given the fixed penalty.

"In one instance, the same person made two such sales and ended up with a hefty fine, as well as other sanctions from their employer," said PC Steve Thomas, licensing officer for Herefordshire Division.

The other stores who were caught twice were Marie's stores, Folly Lane, Hereford, and Kilpeck Avenue stores, Hereford.

Every store that made a sale has been reported to the licensing authority and the licence holder given a warning letter.

"Any store that makes sales on three occasions may have their licence reviewed and be unable to sell alcohol," said Andrew Tector, Herefordshire Council's head of environmental health and trading standards.