Around half of the Bradford off licences targeted in a trading standards sting operation sold alcohol to children.

The shocking findings were revealed by officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service.

Last weekend alone the team caught three Bradford and Keighley off-licences selling alcohol to a 14-year-old schoolboy sent in by the team.

The operation is being run under the Government's misuse of alcohol campaign which still has two months to run.

Dennis Ager, trading standards officer, said that in the first two weeks 49 per cent of targeted off licences across the country have sold alcohol to children. Mr Ager would not reveal how many off licences his teams had tested but said only shops which had been reported to them by members of the public underwent them.

His team will be carrying out the so-called stings every weekend between now and the end of August. Inquiries into those which made illegal sales are on-going.

Martin Wood, chief officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service, said: "This latest operation identifies the extent of the problem of underage drinking in this area.

"I wish to stress to all licensees that they should take all necessary steps to verify a young person's age because such enforcement operations will continue beyond the summer campaign."

Councillor Malcolm Slater, chairman of West Yorkshire Joint Services, which oversees the work of trading standards, added: "The apparent ease with which youngsters can purchase alcohol illegally is of great concern to local people and I urge anyone concerned about off-licence premises selling to children to report the shop owner to the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service."

Chief Inspector Simon Atkin, of West Yorkshire Police's Keighley division, said: "We hope this will send a clear message to shops and off licences that the licensing regulations must be complied with.

Anyone with information or requiring general advice can contact the Consumer Helpline on 0113 384 8848.