Almost a quarter of shops targeted by police in a test purchase operation sold alcohol to underage customers.

Police tested 25 off licenses and supermarkets this month and caught six selling booze to children under the age of 18.

On Friday, December 12, night, Deep Blue Fish Bar in Hampton Wick high street sold a 15-year-old police cadet a bottle of Magners cider.

The 37-year-old female employee who made the sale was handed the standard £90 fine.

The next day, police caught another five businesses selling alcohol to underage customers.

These were Tesco Express in Sheen Lane, Mortlake, another Tesco in Kew Parade, Sainsbury’s in Manor Road, North Sheen, Harri Supermarket in Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, and Olivers Wholefoods outside Kew Gardens station.

London Assembly member, Councillor Tony Arbour said: “Ensuring shopkeepers abide by the laws governing the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to children is important to parents in the borough.

“Police operations of this kind give confidence to residents and demonstrate to traders that they are being monitored.”

Metropolitan Police acting sergeant Kevin Fagan, who witnessed the sales as part of the operation, said: “Hopefully this will serve as a reminder to licensed premises in the borough that they need to up their game.

“The sale of alcohol to a minor is something which has an effect on their behaviour and their health.”

Shops which did not make sales to children will receive notification of their success at a later date.