THERE is now no hiding place for under-age drinkers in the centre of Sandy. For a long time they enjoyed their night time tipple sitting on a wall behind a high hedge at the side of the Royal Mail offices in Park Road. Their choice was perfect to evade th

THERE is now no hiding place for under-age drinkers in the centre of Sandy.

For a long time they enjoyed their night time tipple sitting on a wall behind a high hedge at the side of the Royal Mail offices in Park Road.

Their choice was perfect to evade the snooping eye of the CCTV camera in the town centre and only the kids' empty beer cans and alcopop bottles remained scattered by the wall in the morning to indicate their illegal drinking hideout.

Now the hedge has been cut down after an appeal by police to the Royal Mail to help them beat under-age drinking in the town.

Officers had been concerned for many months about the area at the side of the Royal Mail building being used by youngsters to hide from the CCTV cameras and drink alcohol.

"We knew what was going on because of all the cans and bottles we found in the mornings which kids had left by the wall," said Sgt Ted Bloodworth of Biggleswade police neighbourhood policing team.

"At the time we had a problem identifying those responsible because they hid behind a hedge in a convenient place where CCTV could not see them.

"We went to the Royal Mail and told them of the problem and how it would help if the hedge was cut down and they were happy to oblige.

"Since it was trimmed down a few weeks ago there has been no problem of the kids meeting in this quiet corner of the town centre in Sandy. But I imagine they have found somewhere else which I am sure we will find in the end.