TEENAGE boozers plaguing Swindon shopping areas, parks and streets have had drink seized and poured away in a police crackdown.

The week-long Operation Del Monte saw alcohol collected and information gathered about where youngsters were illegally getting drink in North Swindon.

The operation's prime focus was to cut alcohol-linked crime and disorder among young people.

Police swooped on youngsters in Redhouse Park, areas behind the Orbital Retail Park on Thamesdown Drive and Lyme Way in Abbey Meads.

The Advertiser joined forces with Police Community Support Officers Val Craft, for Cheney Manor, and Vicky Packford, for Penhill, during their operation in the areas.

And almost as soon as the officers hit the streets they stopped a group of five boys, aged between 13 and 16, in Collett Avenue, Rodbourne, and talked to them about the problems affected the town.

One youth said: "There's a lot of reasons why people our age drink.

"I'd say it's to impress your mates and look good as well as a way of relaxing."

Another youngster said: "You can feel good drinking.

"There does seem to be a lot of people doing it around the big Asda in North Swindon."

Police patrolled the streets in marked cars between 7pm and 1am on Friday and into early Saturday.

Chief Inspector Paul Mills of Wiltshire Police said: "We know that anti-social behaviour andunderage drinking are concerns for local residents.

"This operation wasn't just about taking the alcohol off the drinkers.

"It's also about establishing who is providing the alcohol to young people and making sure we robustly deal with those responsible."

Sgt Andrew Carr, pictured right, who heads up the North Swindon Neighbourhood Policing Teams, said: "It has gone very well. We are pleased it has been so successful.

"The operation was run during half-term, which is a good time to do it.

"It is about intelligence gathering as well as seizing cans or bottles.

"We now know more about where people are getting their drinks from and in some cases who is buying it for them."

Alcohol testing strips, provided by Swindon Council, were used in the operation.

"If we suspect something stronger in an individual's drink, like vodka for example, we'll saturate the reactive pad in the bottle top of the drink," he added.

"It changes colour if alcohol is present.

"These help us to further police the problem.

"There are obvious health risk involving in under age drinking. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can be a lot for youngsters to cope with.

"They are also open to difficulties and their vulnerability are other issues that concerns us.

"A low level of anti-social behaviour presents other risks."