Employees at three Telford businesses have been handed fines after a police sting caught them selling alcohol to under 18s.

The undercover operation, a joint effort between Telford & Wrekin Council’s Trading Standards team and West Mercia Police, found that one-fifth of stores visited supplied alcohol to underage drinkers.

The sting took place over two days and included the use of underage children to prove that the retailers would sell alcohol illegally before police swooped.

Alex Rankin, principal trading standards officer for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “We do use underage people. They do not look older than their age, we are not looking to trick retailers, merely checking compliance with the law.

“The Penalty Notices were issued to the employees who sold the alcohol. Investigations are continuing into the premises to see whether there are adequate systems in place to stop employees selling to underage customers.”

The employees have been hit with penalty fines of £80 each.

The businesses in question cannot be named for legal reasons, but a number are under investigation.

Acting Chief Inspector Richard Langton, of Telford police, said: “There are still retailers who are either willing to sell to underage people or who are reckless as to how old their customers are.

“We will work with our partners to change this situation for the better and will take robust action against those who break the law.”