Nine children were taken off the streets as part of a night time operation to keep young people safe in Hyndburn.

Police found five underage girl drinkers during the crackdown in Accrington.

They ranged in age from 13 to 17.

Officers took them home, and four other children were collected by their parents following the swoop.

More than 40 litres of alcohol was seized in total including beer, cider and spirits.

Special constables, neighbourhood police officers and Lancashire County Council’s trading standards joined forces with children’s services, early intervention officers and Early Break for the operation, which took place across Hyndburn between 6.30pm on Friday, February 15 and 1am on Saturday, February 16.

During a similar operation in July last year police found 198 young people out on the streets of Hyndburn in a single night.

This included two schoolgirls who were found drinking alcohol with a group of older males who were all camping in the woods and a 14-year-old boy who was found just before midnight trying to pick fights with older men.

PC Martin Midgley, of Lancashire police, who coordinated this month’s operation, said the action came as part of the CANsafe scheme which targets the negative impact underage drinking and anti-social behaviour can have on communities.

PC Midgley added: “Young people, who are on the streets at night, can be putting themselves at risk.

“CANsafe is aimed at identifying these young people and removing them from situations of vulnerability to a place of safety.

“There we can identify any additional support the young person may need and their parents can be called to collect them.

“It’s important that parents are aware of the situations and circumstances that these young people were found in so they can offer them support.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw also joined officers on the evening.

He added: “The impact of underage drinking in our communities cannot be underestimated, contributing to anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime.

“I would like to thank all the partners involved in CANsafe for their continued efforts to tackle underage drinking.”

Anyone with information or concerns about anti-social behaviour in their community can contact police on 101.