A 14-year-old girl found staggering drunk and alone through Herne Bay town centre has been referred to an alcohol support programme.

The teenage girl was discovered in Mortimer Street by police but had drunk so much alcohol she was unable to communicate.

It emerged an adult she had approached had agreed to buy alcohol for her and a friend from a shop in the town.

She was taken home to her parents and later referred to the Herne Bay Alcohol Support Programme.

Police described it as an “isolated incident”, but it follows a spate of recent reports of boozed-up youngsters causing misery for people in the town.

Last week at the Memorial Park, young mum Maryjane Foreman saw a gang of drunken teenagers vandalising the play area.

She said: “Wet tissue was being thrown into the play park where young children were running around at 3pm. The language being used was disgusting.

“There were groups of teenagers going in and out of the public toilets beside the park, not allowing the public to get through and kicking the toilet doors in.

“I was absolutely disgusted by how they were acting in front of my son – horrified isn’t the word.”

Canterbury City Council previously launched an investigation to stop town centre shops selling alcohol to youngsters, or to adults who then pass on the booze to children.

“I was absolutely disgusted by how they were acting in front of my son – horrified isn’t the word" - MaryJane Forman

Licensing officer PC Sue Ginever said: “There are huge risks for the health and personal safety of a person drinking under age and they must not be encouraged by any adult.

“Kent Police carries out licence enforcement work to ensure alcohol is not being sold to under-age children in bars, shops or off-licences.

“Under the Kent Community Alcohol Partnerships we work with a number of partner agencies to cut under-age alcohol sales. The aim is to reduce young people’s access to alcohol by building on the existing work undertaken by trading standards service and the police.

“Retailers and local authorities will share information on problems with under-age drinking and work to solve any issues.”