A shop in Stoke-on-Trent has been issued with a closure notice after "persistent" illegal seizures by Trading Standards.

Easy Shop in Meir has been caught with £11,309 worth of illegal products since the start of the year and the shop was ordered to close for three months on 22 May.

The store, on Weston Road, has already had 42 interventions by Trading Standards since 2019 and will now not be able to reopen until 22 August.

A closure notice was also issued to Abbey Hulton Supermarket which since 2021 had 17 test purchases of illegal cigarettes and vapes and five seizures, totalling £28,164 in retail value.

The operation to root out the illegal sellers forms part of a national operation with HMRC and National Trading Standards to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council says the two shops shut down have both been subject to enforcement action multiple times.

Cllr Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, and I welcome these closures of two persistent offenders.

"Our Trading Standards teams work hard to remove illegal tobacco and vapes off the streets to keep everybody safe and make sure legal businesses are not being undermined.

"This work is part of the council's commitment to creating a cleaner, greener and safer city for all and you will face serious consequences if you choose to sell illegal products."

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