A Keighley town-centre shop has launched an initiative to help stamp out under-age boozing.

Bargain Booze is offering £200 cash rewards for information leading to the conviction of those selling alcohol to children.

It follows incidents in which people have legally bought booze from the Cavendish Street outlet, but then sold it on to youngsters.

Manageress Fran Dawson (pictured) said the initiative had been tried at some other Bargain Booze branches nationally, with considerable success.

She said: "People say they have seen children -- with our carrier bags -- drinking at the top of their streets, but the youngsters are not getting the alcohol from us. We are extremely vigilant and have a strict policy about sales to people under 18. Because of what folk have seen on the streets, complaints have been made and as a result we have twice had unannounced checks carried out by Trading Standards officers. Of course they have found nothing wrong.

"We want to make the public aware that this practice of selling alcohol to children on the streets of Keighley is going on and it is illegal. We are determined to do what we can to help eradicate it."

The Bargain Booze scheme is applauded by Councillor Andrew Mallinson, chairman of Keighley Town Centre Management.

He said: "Any involvement of businesses in tackling anti-social and illegal practices is extremely welcome.

"This practice of people selling alcohol to young people on the streets is a problem not just in Keighley but across the Bradford district and I applaud this new measure. If it assists the police in any way and helps make Keighley a better place, it has got to be good.

"Adults, whether they are providing alcohol to their own children or selling it to others, need to take responsibility for their actions."

His comments are echoed by Graham Hebblethwaite, of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service. He added: "We will support anything that highlights what is a very real problem. Any scheme that helps to control the situation is advantageous.

"What we have found in some areas is children hanging around outside off-licence premises hassling adults as they have been going into the shop and asking them to buy alcohol for them."

Town-centre bobby PC Paul Sullivan said the police also supported any scheme which would reduce the incidence of under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour.