POLICE were out in force across Hyndburn last Friday night as part of a major operation to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

Dozens of extra officers were drafted in at the start of Operation Extant, a 100-day clean-up operation in Hyndburn, which will run until November.

The operation centres around Accrington town centre and Oswaldtwistle as well as the Spring Hill and Fern Gore areas which residents say have been plagued by problems.

Among those taking part was Inspector Terry Woods, who is in charge of Accrington Police Station.

As part of the plan to combat under-age drinking officers took to the streets, seizing alcohol from teenage boozers which was then poured down the drain.

Their names and addresses were then taken by officers with the intention of sending letters home to their parents warning them of their behaviour.

A 22-year-old man was arrested and issued with an £80 fine for being drunk and disorderly on Beech Grove, Accrington, as part of the operation.

Police Community Support Officer Wayne Smith said: "We seized around 20 litres of alcohol on the night so it was very successful.

"Sometimes young people can be a little flippant when you take alcohol off them but the ones we dealt with were very good. Some were quite shocked when we told them letters would go home to their parents."