ADULTS are "dealing" alcohol to teenagers in a Pontypool park, it is claimed.

Residents in the Pontnewynydd area of the town say adults are selling cans and bottles of lager to underage youths from carrier bags.

It comes as police in Pontypool reveal they seized hundreds of litres of alcohol from youths in a school summer holiday drink crackdown.

Officers launched an operation to combat alcohol-fuelled youth-disorder, and caught youths as young as 13 drinking on the streets of Pontypool and Blaenavon.

Pontnewynydd councillor Joyce Gregory said she saw two men and a woman selling alcohol to youths in a park near Lewis Terrace adults on at least two evenings in recent weeks.

She said: "This is shocking behaviour - as bad as drug dealing in my opinion.

"We've got a problem with kids drinking and causing trouble down here anyway. These people should know better."

Councillor Gregory has reported the incidents to police and the council's licensing committee Snatchwood councillor Ivor Davies added: "I am aware of this going on. We are doing work in that park to cut this behaviour out. This area is an alcohol-free zone so this is very concerning."

Pontypool neighbourhood policing team Sergeant Mike Pheasant said police are aware of adults buying alcohol for minors, and are investigating this development.

He said: "If this is the case it is obviously concerning and a top priority for us."

Over the summer holidays police in Pontypool targeted trouble hotspots, including Pontnewynydd, which are plagued by alcohol-fuelled disorder.

High-visibility patrols targeted known trouble spots across the area and seized alcohol.

The neighbourhood policing teams confiscated 153 cans of lager, 64 bottles of lager, 20 cans of cider, 11 litres of cider, one bottle of wine, one bottle of liquor, two bottles of spirits and two bottles of alcopops.

Letters were written to the parents of youths who needed further intervention.

Police will continue highly visible patrols to prevent trouble.

  • Anyone with information can contact Torfaen Trading Standards on 01633 648384 or Gwent police on 01633 838111.