TWO shops have been caught selling alcohol to children as young as 14.

Police and Vale of White Horse District Council carried out test purchasing operations on Friday at 12 licensed premises in the area to check whether staff were serving alcohol to under 18s.

Details were only released today.

Wine Rack in Wallingford Road, Wantage, failed and the member of staff who served the alcohol was handed an £80 fixed penalty notice.

The Co-op shop in Besselsleigh Road, Wootton, near Abingdon, also failed. The shop's management has been summoned to a meeting with council and police after an investigation showed the test-purchaser was served alcohol by a member of staff who was under 18.

It was the first time either shop failed test purchasing.

Ten other stores in the Wantage, Grove and Steventon passed the test.

Two children, aged 14 and 15, were used in the undercover test-purchasing operation which are taking place about once a week across the county.

Angela Lawrence, executive member for environmental health at the Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "We are disappointed that two shops failed the test purchasing, however since starting the campaign we have seen a reduction in the numbers failing the test so the message that underage sales will not be tolerated is clearly getting through."