FIVE traders could lose their drinks licence after selling alcohol to under-18s.

Police are preparing evidence for applications to revoke the licences which will go before Crawley magistrates in June.

A further six outlets are due to receive cautions for the same offence.

The move follows a four-week police operation targeting 20 shops in Crawley, ranging from small businesses to national chains.

Teenagers aged 14 and 15 were used as decoys by the police and results show that 55 per cent of the outlets approached sold them alcohol.

The figure is lower than the 90 per cent failure rate calculated during a similar campaign last year, but police say the number is still too high.

Sgt Chris Ball said police took the situation seriously which is why they are taking action against the stores.

He said: "All outlets being targeted were sent a warning letter about the four-week operation and it was advertised in the Press.

"This was not an underhanded operation as the children looked their age and every effort was made to warn shopkeepers that we would be in the area.

"Unfortunately, some still sold the alcohol and they are the ones we are dealing with now."

The operation was launched after complaints about drunken teenagers causing a nuisance outside shops, particularly in the Tilgate area.

Sgt Ball said all shops should ask for identification if they are uncertain about a child's age and if they are not satisfied then they should not sell the alcohol.

He said shopping areas throughout the town would continue to be monitored by police.

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