A BOURTON shop worker was given an £80 on-the-spot fine after being caught selling alcohol to a 14-year-old girl.

The worker was issued with the fixed penalty notice during a Gloucestershire Trading Standards crackdown on the sale of alcohol, cigarettes and knives to youngsters during the recent half-term holiday.

The offending trader, who can choose to pay the fine or go to court, was one of two in the Cotswolds who sold alcohol to the teenage volunteer during the operation, which targeted 11 shops in the Cotswolds and 12 in Stroud. The other seller was based in Fairford.

Trading Standards may take legal action against the sellers and the shop owners. Trading standards manager Mark Gardiner said the fixed penalty notice was issued in Bourton as there were "extenuating circumstances".

However, he said: "We are always disappointed when people sell. The kids we use do really look young. It's really giving traders a chance to make a refusal."

Mr Gardiner said the good news was that nine out of the 11 Cotswold traders refused to sell to the underage volunteers and that the failure rate throughout Gloucestershire had been reduced to 17 per cent from 36 per cent two years ago.

During the latest operation, two shops in Stroud sold alcohol to a 15-year-old boy. Another 11 shops in Cirencester, Stroud and Cheltenham were tested to see if they would sell knives and cigarettes.

One shop in Cheltenham sold cigarettes to a 15-year-old boy and another sold him a knife.

Roger Marles, head of Trading Standards, said: "Although sales were made on each day, the majority of retailers asked the youngsters for proof of age. Retailers need to continue to be vigilant, not just during half term but every time they sell a product that has an age restriction."