THE Albany Palace pub in Trowbridge was fined after it sold alcoholic drinks to 17-year-old police cadets.

Wiltshire Police has been carrying out licensed premises test purchases in the town. Five premises were visited, four of which challenged the would-be customers and either refused them entry or declined to serve them alcohol.

However the JD Weatherspoon's outlet, Park Road, sold alcohol to the cadets and as a result it was hit with a £90 charge was given to the bar staff who served the drinks.

Sgt Steve McGlynn said: “A key priority for Wiltshire Police is to protect children from harm linked to alcohol. Using our volunteer police cadets helps us to reduce youth vulnerability to crime.

"Helping the local Community Policing Teams with crime prevention initiatives is an important community activity for our cadets.

"The safety of our cadets is paramount and permission was obtained to allow them to be used in this operation.”

Supt Phil Staynings, head of crime prevention said: “One of our key licensing priorities is the protection of children from harm caused by alcohol, meaning that further test purchase operations are planned across Wiltshire.

"Those premises in breach of licensing laws will be dealt with robustly, resulting in further action and potentially the loss of their licence."