The first month of an alcohol test-purchasing scheme to help curb underage drinking in Strathclyde has recorded a "failure" rate of just 9%.

Of 235 test purchases at licensed premises last month as part of the Can't Tell - Don't Sell campaign, only 21 were recorded as failures.

The crackdown by Strathclyde Police involves deploying 16-year-olds to licensed premises, where they try to buy alcohol. The campaign is co-ordinated by Superintendent Stephen McGrath.

He said: "To have carried out over 200 test purchases in the space of a month and to have recorded just 21 failures is a clear indication licensees are adhering to the law and taking the responsibility of refusing to sell to those who are underage very seriously."

He added: "The aim is not to attempt to catch people out, but simply to reinforce the message that underage drinking is unacceptable, and knowingly selling to anyone underage is an offence."