MORE than 60 bottles and cans of alcohol were confiscated from young teenagers in Caldicot.

There were 27 youngsters aged between 13 and 16 caught with booze – including lager, cider and spirits – and their parents have received warning letters from the police.

The Severnside neighbourhood policing team ran an operation during January following complaints of underage drinking in the grounds of Caldicot Castle.

Police have also been working with the Monmouthshire Youth Service to tackle the root cause of the issue.

Inspector Geoff Smith, partnership inspector for Monmouthshire said: "Local police officers and community support officers actively patrol areas where problems occur and will confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers.

"It's well known that alcohol has close links with crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Basically, I'm saying that the more a young person drinks alcohol, the more likely they are to get into trouble and end up with a criminal record.

"We have worked closely in Caldicot with Monmouthshire Youth Service to make young people aware of the social and health problems drinking alcohol can cause, and presentations have been given both at the Zone Youth Club and in local schools as part of police involvement in the core schools programme."

Rory Garey of Monmouthshire Youth Service said: "Severnside neighbourhood policing team and staff from The Zone engage with local young people regularly around the issues of substance misuse.

"Local community support officers have also ran alcohol awareness workshops in The Zone a local youth club in partnership with Monmouthshire Youth Service.

"These were delivered to raise the awareness of the dangers of drinking alcohol and acting inappropriately in public."