It's a sign of the times in Polish

The signs inform customers in the eastern European language and English that drunks will not be served alcoholic drinks, that under-18s are banned from buying alcohol and that tobacco cannot be bought by those who are under 18.

In all, five separate notices are being put up in each of the first five retail outlets around the town where they are most needed.

They are in response to incidents where eastern Europeans have refused to accept the decision of staff who have declined to sell them booze.

One shop worker in the Co-op in Hawthorn Road was physically assaulted for obeying the law.

The notices were a joint idea between Carol Young, the Co-op manager, and Police Community Support Office Justina Baker. They have begun to appear in the past fortnight.

Mrs Young said: "The notices have worked well. We have had no incidents at all since they were put up.

"It can be very difficult asking the eastern Europeans for identity.

"Some of them don't understand. Now, with the notices we can just point to them and they know what we mean."

PCSO Baker, who patrols the Pevensey ward, said she became of the problems encountered by shop staff when Mrs Young attended one of the regular neighbourhood management forums held by the police.

"I know the staff in the Co-op have been verbally abused when they have refused to serve alcohol. There has been the same problem in the One-Stop shop in Hawthorn Road," stated PCSO Baker.

"The signs are helping the eastern Europeans to understand English law.

"The words are in exactly the same size in English and Polish so that everyone is being treated the same."

As well as the Co-op, the signs have been installed in One Stop, Morrisons in Bognor town centre, two Threshers and two Tesco Express stores. They are located around the town centre and Aldwick Road.

More notices would be installed where shop managers request them, added PCSO Baker. It was hoped that the current paper signs would be replaced by laminated versions when money was available.