​Four shopworkers have been fined for selling strong cider to 16-year-olds in Bath.

Nearly a third of the stores targeted in an undercover operation in the city were caught breaking the law on under-age sales.

One of the workers has been sacked, while all four have been given £80 on-the-spot fines by Bath and North East Somerset Council and the police.

The joint operation sent two 16-year-olds into 13 Bath shops – and they were successful in buying the cider, which is at the centre of increasing health concerns, in four of them.

The council has refused to name the shops, saying further court action could still be taken, although legal responsibility for the sales lies with the individual members of staff.

It stressed the youngsters used looked their age, and council trading standards manager Roger Pope said: “This action sends out the clear message that the council will take strong, decisive action against licensees who ignore the law and endanger the health and wellbeing of young people by selling them alcohol. There is no excuse for a licensee to sell to people who are under-age, given the clear advice given about how to prevent selling to children.”

The council’s project officer for alcohol harm reduction, Jodie Smith, said the amount each teenager bought would have exceeded the recommended daily limit for adults.

“Alcohol consumed in harmful amounts can seriously damage both a young person’s health and emotional wellbeing in the short and long term, in addition to the anti-social behaviour consequences.”

Police city centre beat manager Sgt Richard Durnford said: “We continually remind licensees of their responsibilities to comply with the law, and we deal firmly with those who don’t. Under-age drinking can damage the health of our young people and lead to anti-social behaviour, which affects others in the community.”

In July, the council stripped Bright Stores in Upper Bristol Road of its licence to sell alcohol after staff sold to under-age youngsters.

Anyone concerned about a shop selling alcohol or cigarettes to children can call the council's trading standards team on 01225 396753.