BUSINESSES in Ilminster and the surrounding area have been warned again about selling alcohol to under age people.

Checks in the last two months across Somerset saw 69% of shops sell alcohol to youngsters compared to February when 59% of stores tested made sales to under age buyers.

The latest checks carried out by Somerset County Council's Trading Standards department involved volunteers aged 14 to 16 who attempted to buy alcohol from targeted shops which had sold alcohol to under age buyers before.

Checks were also carried out on shops identified by Community Support Officers as being in areas where under age drinking was a problem and random checks were carried out on other shops.

All the businesses in the areas concerned were sent a letter telling them the checks would be carried out and setting out the legal obligations the shopkeeper and staff needed to be aware of. Trading standards officers monitored the attempted sales and in seven cases the police issued an £80 on-the-spot fine to the person making the sale. The licensees are being investigated to see if they should be prosecuted and could face a maximum fine of £1,000.