POLICE were out in force across the county to catch underage drinking - with mixed results.

In Banbury at the weekend, they seized 120 cans and bottles of beer, 40 empty beer cans, one bottle of Lambrini, and one bottle of white rum during the first three days of a ten-day campaign.

But in Witney, just four cans of lager were seized, which police said proved a zero tolerance approach was working in west Oxfordshire, after a similar operation four months ago saw 160 cans and several bottles taken off youths.

One person, a 16-year-old youth, was arrested in Banbury for a public order offence and was charged and bailed to appear at a youth court.

The alcohol was confiscated and poured away.

Sgt Dave Hibbert, who is leading the campaign, named Operation Jaunt, said: "So far, things have gone well, but we will have to wait and see how the rest of the week develops.

"The amount of alcohol seized shows we do have youngsters out drinking in Banbury, but not to a worrying extent.

"The vast majority of those youths we came into contact with were cooperative, and the small number who weren't were dealt with robustly, with one youth ending up in court."

In Cherwell district, the crackdown saw extra police patrols out in Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington and surrounding rural areas.

Sgt Hibbert added: "The initiative is in response to Home Office concerns about the rise in underage drinking.

In Witney, one underage person was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and in another case the parents of a teenager were called to come and collect him.

The area police commander, Chief Insp Dennis Evernden, said: "It seems there is very little alcohol now out on the streets and in public places."