Stoke-on-Trent City Council teams organised a day of test purchase at shops across the city this week. 

Visits were carried out to 11 premises - nine correctly refused sales but two shops sold vapes to 15-year-old girls without asking for identification. 

The shops in Hanley and Bucknall have been notified and are now being investigated by trading standards officers.

Teams also seized 92 illegal vapes and a quantity of illegal tobacco which was hidden under the counter at the rear of the Bucknall store. 

Shops in Hanley and Bucknall sold vapes to 15-year-old girls without asking for identification (Stoke-on-Trent City Council).

Councillor Carl Edwards, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment said: "It is illegal to sell alcohol or tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. Our test purchases are done in a controlled way to check that premises are following the legal requirements that are in place to protect residents.

"It is pleasing that the vast majority of the premises we visited were complying with their legal obligations. It's absolutely vital that retailers in the city have steps in place to prevent underage sales of products such as alcohol and tobacco.

"All retailers should ensure their staff are properly trained to prevent these products getting into the hands of children. We will be taking appropriate action against the retailers who failed the operation."