THOUSANDS of under-aged boozers as young as 14 are buying alcohol in pubs and shops across East Lancashire -- and even getting served in nightclubs, according to a survey.

Nearly half of 14-17 year olds in Blackburn and Darwen -- 47 per cent -- have admitted buying booze for themselves.

And the shock figures have prompted trading standards bosses and police to launch a fresh crackdown on the sale of drink to under 18s.

They come despite the fact that the number of children prosecuted in Lancashire for under-age drinking has soared 77 per cent since 1996 -- the 12th highest increase in England.

The figures were revealed in a survey by the North West Trading Standards Unit, which interviewed 2,000 children aged between 14 and 17 in the county.

They show:

o Teenage boozers find it easier to buy alcohol in Blackburn and Darwen than anywhere else in the North West

o Just under a quarter -- 23per cent -- said they had no problems getting served in nightclubs

o In the rest of Lancashire 38 per cent of youngsters said they bought their own alcohol, compared with a regional average of around 35per cent

o 76 per cent of teenagers in Blackburn with Darwen admit to drinking, along with 87per cent in Lancashire and 88per cent in the region as a whole

Chris Allen, Blackburn with Darwen Council's chief trading standards officer, said: "These figures concern us, and they also surprise us because we are one of the few authorities to have a dedicated officer working on under aged sales.

"We will be working with the police to carry out more test purchases to find the people who are selling the alcohol to children.

"It's a problem which manifests itself in many ways, for example it can lead to teenagers drinking on streets and causing problems for residents. It is something we take seriously."

Executive member for citizen and consumer rights, Coun Frank Connor said: "Trading standards officers respond to every report of underage selling and test purchases are also made on a regular basis to identify areas where further education or enforcement action is needed."

Chief Inspector Ralph Copley said: "We take the enforcement of selling alcohol to children under the age of 18 years extremely seriously and have a number of activities that are ongoing across the borough to combat this.

"We regularly issue penalty notices to those who sell alcohol to underage customers as well as having targeted test purchasing operations with Trading Standards. We have more planned for the near future.

"The police are also involved with educating children as to the dangers of consuming alcohol."

Derek Haworth, landlord of the Fox and Hounds, in Ewood, and chairman of the Blackburn Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA), said: "It is very, very difficult these days for licensees to spot under age drinkers. You get girls and boys who are only 14 or 15, who look like they are 18. Young people are maturing much quicker these days.

"The only thing you can do, if you are in any doubt, is to ask for identification. That's one of the reasons why I think these ID cards the Government is planning will be a good thing."

Figures for the Lancashire Police area show 2,180 10-17 year-olds were convicted for being drunk in 2003, compared to 1,231 in 1996.

On average 600 youngsters are charged every week in England with being drunk and under-age.

Charity Alcohol concern has blamed lax policing for the problem and a spokesman said: "It is simply too easy for kids to buy alcohol.

"Even a modest increase in police patrols around off licences can reduce sales to under-18s by 35 to 40 per cent.

"But police don't have the manpower to enforce the laws and the Home Office need to keep up the pressure on shop owners and pub landlords."