Kingston and Richmond councils are set to crackdown on retailers who sell alcohol to underage children.

Thanks to a new law which came into force last week, trading standards officers and police are now allowed to carry out test purchases of alcohol using underage subjects.

Actor and Kingston resident, John Altman, who plays Nasty Nick in EastEnders, has pledged his support to the ground-breaking campaign.

Local MPs Edward Davey and Jenny Tonge have also shown their support for the project, which targets retailers selling solvents to youths as well.

Kingstons chief trading standards officer, Ted Forsyth, who has been campaigning for the new powers for years, said: We want to do all we can to help retailers comply with the law and will be carrying out checks to make sure they do. Our strong advice to retailers is, if in any doubt about someones age ask for proof. No proof No sale.

Trading standards officers have prosecuted several shop owners in recent years for selling cigarettes and knives to young people, and now the same laws apply to alcohol and drugs, such as butane and other items.

Shopkeepers will be forewarned about the coming campaign, through posters which will also make a request for any information on people selling illegally to youths.

The campaign has been organised by community safety partnerships, drug action teams, trading standards and the police.

q See comment, page 12.