Hundreds of bottles, cans and boxes of alcohol have been seized from teenagers in the start of a major clampdown on drunken and anti-social behaviour in Shrewsbury town centre.

In just a few hours during a night-time blitz a large amount of cider, lager, spirits, alcopops and other alcohol was seized from under-age drinkers in places such as The Quarry park.

Police said they had seized a “worrying” amount of alcohol that was almost certain to have come from parents’ homes, including malt whisky, Babycham and even old water and pop bottles filled with spirits and a mixer.

As part of a wider campaign targeting the personal safety of young people, officers will be carrying out regular patrols of the town and confiscating alcohol from anybody under the age of 18.

Sergeant Claire Greenaway, in charge of policing for the town centre, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour and the personal safety of young people in Shrewsbury is one of our biggest concerns and we need the message to get across that underage drinking will not be tolerated.

“This week has been freshers’ week with a lot of new students out celebrating the next chapter in their lives. However, Thursday’s operation was not a one-off, we will be regularly patrolling the area and will take alcohol from anybody who is below the legal age.

“We will also gather intelligence as to which stores many of them bought the alcohol from and will take further action in that respect.”