POLICE confiscated over 30 bottles and cans of alcohol from teenagers who are too young to drink in Melksham on Friday.

The group of about eight youngsters were drinking in a field behind Cornflower Way at about 9pm when they were challenged by officers.

Insp Sarah Bodell of Melksham police said: "We have an issue in Melksham with the consumption of alcohol by underage youths.

"There were people there over 18 but we had people who were under 18 who had clearly been drinking."

Police and the town council have joined forces to try and tackle the town's problems with gangs of youngsters hanging around the streets and parks drinking and taking illegal drugs.

There have also been problems with vandalism and intimidating behaviour in the town.

The latest initiative by the council and police is a letter that will be delivered by police to the parents of youngsters involved.

Police have already spoken to shopkeepers in the town to reinforce the need to ask for identification but many youngsters will simply get older friends to buy alcohol for them.