COMMUNITY safety leaders are appealing to shopkeepers in Clevedon to be extra cautious when selling alcohol - to ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of teenagers

COMMUNITY safety leaders are appealing to shopkeepers in Clevedon to be extra cautious when selling alcohol - to ensure it doesn't fall into the hands of teenagers.Members of Clevedon Local Action Team (LAT) are becoming increasingly concerned at the levels of underage drinking in the seaside resort.The group has even written to bosses at a town supermarket asking them to be extra cautious after allegations local teenagers were purchasing alcohol there.Clevedon Local Action Team chairman Councillor Patrick McNeill said: "There are increasing concerns about the numbers of young people who are drinking on the streets and causing mayhem."Some youngsters may be getting it from home or asking older people to buy it for them, but we were told about a gang of youths who were heard discussing how they got their alcohol from a supermarket in the town."We have written to the store concerned and asked the staff to keep their eye on the situation."Earlier this month the North Somerset Times revealed how one Clevedon man had been forced to spend nearly £20,000 on his home over the last decade to protect it from vandal attacks by boozed up teens.Drinking hotspots in the town include Herbert Gardens, the Salthouse Fields and the play area next to the cricket club at Dial Hill.Smashed glass, bottles and cans were also left littered around Marine Lake at the weekend.Cllr McNeill said: "There is an alcohol free zone which covers much of the town and is aimed at stopping these sort of problems but the young people are just ignoring it and drinking and then causing mayhem and damage."Police said they have been increasing patrols in the area, especially on weekend nights.