Illegal tobacco sales

MORE than half of children working undercover to see if shop owners will sell them cigarettes are successful.

A total of 46 tests were carried out across Oldham in 2008/9 of which 25 children under the legal age successfully purchased the tobacco.

In addition, 17 of the 80 children who went into shops across the borough on test cases were sold alcohol. Two test cases for knives were carried out in Oldham, where one young person was allowed to buy the weapon.

Councillor Mark Alcock said: “This is not just a trade issue but a health concern.”

The alcohol test cases resulted in one licence being revoked, one person prosecuted and seven fines.

No punishments were handed out for tobacco or knife sales.