CHECKS carried out by Somerset County Council's Trading Standards Officers and the police show there has been an increase in the number of businesses selling alcohol to un-der-age youngsters throughout the county.

In the last two months the figure was 69% compared to 59% in February.

Mike Ashwin, the Taunton Sector Inspec-tor, said: "The sale of alcohol to under 18s and the often inappropriate use by teenagers is part of the reason why we constantly have to deal with anti-social behaviour problems."

For more details see this Thursday's County Gazette.