A HAMPSHIRE pub has been caught selling booze to an underage teenager.

Bar staff at The Bugle, in Titchfield, failed to challenge a youngster who was working on a police test purchase operation targeting pubs and off licenses in and around Fareham.

But police say they are pleased that just one of the 14 premises they visited failed the latest sting by selling alcohol to a teenager.

“The fact that all but one premise passed is a really positive outcome which I believe shows that the majority of the licensing trade are taking their responsibilities more seriously,” said Sergeant Roy Jennings.

“The juveniles in the operation reported that they were asked politely but very positively for identification by the majority of the venues.”

Officers will meet management at The Bugle before deciding on whether or not further action will be taken.

Premises that passed the test included: The Brass Monkey, The Crown, The Vanguard and Chicago Rock in Fareham, and Stubbington’s Budgens, Crofton Lane One Stop, and the Co-Op and Cuckoo Pint in Cuckoo Lane.