BLANDFORD police have clamped down on under-age drinking in the town after members of the community raised worries over the problem.

Safer Neighbourhood officers heard about the worries at a meeting of the Partners and Communities Together (Pact) panel, which is made up of representatives of the local authorities, police, fire and housing associations.

At the meeting, locals highlighted under-age drinking in Stour Park and at Blandford's skate park as the biggest worry and a priority for police action.

Working under the name Operation Foliage, they took to the streets and seized large quantities of booze from under-age drinkers.

Inspector Phil Cheverton, district commander for North Dorset Police, said: "This is an excellent example of Safer Neighbourhood Teams responding to community concerns.

"The fact that we now have a team of locally-based officers dedicated to the new Pact process, which allows residents to voice their concerns, has resulted in positive action being taken at the request of the public.

"Significant amounts of beer, cider, spirits and wine were seized and destroyed during Operation Foliage."

Officers have also been working with the Youth Inclusion Support Panel to help young people between the ages of five and 14 who shows signs of being susceptible to peer pressure and run the risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

They say that, as a consequence, there has been a "significant reduction" in reported incidents of alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour in the area. Police are now planning further operations to confiscate drink from youngsters.