Police have seized litres of alcohol from underage drinkers congregating in Kent parks.

Officer on patrol in Thanet on Friday night seized cans of lager, litre bottles of cider and soft drinks mixed with vodka from the youngsters in Ellington Park in Ramsgate, Pierremont Park in Broadstairs and Northdown Park in Cliftonville.

Six people were also stopped and searched.

Officers also visited eight licensed premises to remind staff of their responsibilities under the Licensing Act and one outlet received a warning for not displaying a licence.

Nine-year-olds caught in booze culture>>>

Sgt Sue Groombridge said: “"We run this operation regularly to remind the local community that under-age drinking will not be tolerated in the Thanet area.

“We need to remind parents that they must check on where their children are in the evenings and what they are doing - so many times we hear from parents that they thought their sons or daughters were staying at friends’ houses and then seem surprised that they have been roaming the streets and congregating in local parks to drink alcohol.”

The seizures come in the same month that hundreds of litres of beer, alcopops and spirits were poured down the drain by neighbourhood police officers in Rainham and Herne Bay.

A large amount of alcohol was also seized when up to 200 people attended a house party in Beltinge, near Herne Bay, on April 19.

Insp Gordon Etheridge said: “We have seen a reduction in the number of problems reported to us but it is disappointing to see that young people are still getting hold of alcohol, some of it seemingly supplied with the full knowledge of parents."