A 15-year-old boy was found unconscious on a Ferndown playing field on the first night of a new police crackdown on underage drinkers and anti-social behaviour.

The boy, who is believed to have been drinking, was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The teenager was found during Operation Tolerance, the brainchild of PCSCO Chantelle Gosney at Ferndown, and Sarah Rose, of the safer schools and communities team in Verwood.

They spoke at school assemblies last week to warn students about the six-week crackdown taking place on Friday and Saturday nights over the holidays.

PCSO Gosney said a large group of people had gathered on the King George V playing fields last Friday night.

“No alcohol was seen at the time the officers went up there. A bit later on there was an unconscious 15-year-old male. We had to call out an ambulance,” she said.

Ian Curtis, Ferndown beat officer, said foot patrols would be made up of two PCs, two specials and two PCSOs for Operation Tolerance.

They are seizing alcohol and targeting proxy sales, where adults buy booze for youngsters, and will ensure shops do not sell alcohol to those who are underage.

“We will take the names and addresses of the kids and get the parents in to speak to the parents,” he said.

Ferndown Town Council is the only trustee of the playing fields.

Ian Jones, the new town clerk at Ferndown Town Council, said the council had been informed about the incident.

He said staff did their utmost to ensure public safety while they were on duty but the incident happened late at night and access could be gained from the leisure centre to what was a public field.