TWO girls aged 15 and 16 have been used to expose how some Bolton pub and bar owners are allowing under age drinking.

In a crackdown over the Easter weekend, trading standards officers asked the girls to try to get into four town centre bars.

At two bars, the girls were turned away.

But at the other two, the girls, who clearly looked under age, walked past bouncers and bought bottles of WKD alcopops.

The 16-year-old girl said: "We couldn't believe how easy it was.

"At the first bar we went into, the bouncers looked at us, but they didn't even ask us how old we were.

"We went straight to the bar and got a drink.

"There are a lot of people of our age who come into town and do it because it's so easy."

The licensees of the two bars, which have not been named, were given a warning.

Principal Trading Standards officer Darrell Wilson said: "This shows that bars are still not doing enough to make sure they don't sell to people who are clearly under age.

"They need to be aware that we will prosecute and if they are caught more than once, they could lose their licence."

The clampdown on underage drinking came as part of a joint operation with police designed to drive down violent behaviour and drunkeness in the town centre.

As part of Operation Townsafe officers swooped on the town centre armed with video cameras, issuing fixed penalty tickets for those who stepped out of line.

Two people were given £80 fines for public order offences and a total of five arrests were made.

At pubs, including the Last Orders pub on Bradshawgate, police checked fire exits for safety and checked younger drinkers were carrying identification.

Landlord John Manson was happy to see police visit the premises.

He said: "At the end of the day, I want people to feel safe when they come out in Bolton so they enjoy themselves and come back.

"If my punters see the police come in here they soon realise that they can't misbehave so I welcome it and I'm happy to co-operate."

Council enforcement officers also handed £80 fixed penalty tickets to anybody caught dropping litter in the town centre and officers carried out checks on around 10 pubs and bars across town during the night, advising landlords on safety issues.

Insp Maria Donaldson, who led the operation, said: "Generally the visits went well the staff and customers were happy to see us and welcomed the idea of the safety visits.

"The fixed penalty fines are given out for two reasons. Firstly, they act as a warning and can help to stop more serious incidents occurring later in the evening and, secondly, they allow officers to deal with problems quickly and stay on the street where they are needed most.

"We want to make sure people who come to the town and go home with good memories. The message to anybody who wants to get drunk, violent and ruin the enjoyment of others is simple - you're not welcome in Bolton."