POLICE chiefs in Corsham are launching a campaign to combat underage drinking after a gang of 30 students were caught boozing in a town underpass.

Residents living near Valley Road were kept up by rowdy teenagers taking part in booze-fuelled end-of-school celebrations on Friday night.

Police believe most of the gang were GCSE students celebrating the start of their study-leave but some drinkers were as young as 13-years-old.

Police officers arrived to a scene of broken bottles, abusive language and teenagers vomiting on the side of the street.

The gang were moved-on just after 10.30pm but the disruption lasted another half-an-hour spreading into the Springfield estate.

New Corsham police sergeant Debbie Ashley said she is worried about the number of teenagers turning to drink.

She said: "It is a bit of a concern. I am worried about people supplying drink to these teenagers.

"It can end with them lying in hospital after having their stomachs pumped out.

"What concerned me was the amount of drinking going on.

"The residents were very worried and it leads onto problems in Corsham in relation to disturbances and minor damage.

"Nobody wants all this on their doorstep."

Under the crackdown Corsham officers will revitalise the town Pubwatch scheme aimed at uniting the pubs under one organisation to target issues such as underage drinking and late-night violence.

Police officers will also be visiting Corsham shops to remind traders of punishments handed out to people who sell booze to underage teenagers.

Town councillor Roger Fido said he welcomed the police's stance in trying to crackdown on the illegal boozers but sympathised with traders who face an ongoing battle to keep to the law.

He said: "We definitely would welcome anything to try and keep the peace for the residents.

"It's a shame one or two want to spoil it for the rest.

"The problem is stopping the supply it is too easy to get the booze. Some of these kids just don't look their age.

"I think we should look at the issue but I do genuinely feel sorry for the shopkeepers as they face a difficult task."

Mr Fido said he was considering raising the issue of identity cards for Corsham teenagers at the next town council meeting.