A TOP policeman has voiced his disappointment four Bexley pubs sold alcohol to underage youngsters in a test purchasing exercise.

The failure comes after a determined effort by Bexley police and the council to stamp out underage drinking in the borough.

This has seen Bexley heralded as the most hard-line authority on licensing in the country.

Named and shamed, the pubs were identified as the Cross Keys in Erith High Street; the Great Harry in Parsonage Manorway, Belvedere; the Forresters Arms in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, and the Style and Winch in Northend Road, Erith.

The pubs also allowed youngsters to gamble on pub premises.

Chief Inspector Steve Murrant is in overall charge of licensing in the borough.

Folowing the test purchase failures, he said: "After two years of trying to get the message across we will not tolerate irresponsible alcohol retailing in this borough, I am disappointed some licensees still put profit first."

The four pubs were targeted after police received information they were serving alcohol to underage youngsters.

Tests were carried out on March 20 when four young people were sent into the pubs to try and buy an alcoholic drink and play on the gaming machines.

Mr Murrant said he was encouraged people were worried enough to tell their neighbourhood policing teams of their concerns about the pubs.

The staff who sold the booze were each served with an £80 penalty notice and the authorities are now considering what further action to take.

Council leader Councillor Ian Clement said: "We are determined to drive home our commitment towards enforcing the responsible retailing of alcohol."

Bexley has reviewed 32 licences in the two years since the new Licensing Act came into force.

Of these, 14 have either had their licence revoked or the licence holder has surrendered it voluntarily.

And of the remainder, some have had their licences suspended for a period and all have had more stringent conditions applied.

People with concerns about underage drinking and anti-social behaviour can find contact numbers for their safer neighbourhoods teams at met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods or call the community safety hotline free on 0800 389 5013.