TWO-THIRDS of newsagents in Middlesbrough are selling adult video games to children as young as 13, trading standards officers have revealed.

After carrying out an undercover operation, they are warning offenders that they face big fines unless they clean up their act.

The operation took place on a single day and involved two 13-year-old girl volunteers visiting 15 shops, 11 of which stocked magazines with discs attached. Seven of the shops sold items to the girls.

All the discs contained video games for either a PC or a games console. Six of the discs had a 15 certification and one an 18 certificate.

If a video game contains footage such as gross acts of violence towards humans or animals, horrific incidents or criminal behaviour, a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) certificate must be obtained before it goes on sale.

The Video Recordings Act makes it an offence to supply a video to any person who has not attained the age specified on the certificate. Shop managers caught selling such video games to children face a £5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.

One major high street retailer in Middlesbrough sold an 18 certificate DVD supplied with a magazine to a 13-year-old child, while other shops were happy to sell 15 certificate material.

John Wells, trading standards manager, said: "We'll be writing to all suppliers to advise them of their responsibilities and carrying out further surveys over the year. We would urge traders to be more vigilant, as they are likely to face prosecution if sales are repeated."

Councillor Barry Coppinger, executive member for community safety and leisure, said: "I am disappointed that failures have been detected in a wide variety of shops.

"Age restrictions are placed on products for a good reason, and all businesses that make a profit from selling goods like this also shoulder the responsibility of observing the law. Those who don't are doing their community a disservice and cheating their competitors."