A shop caught selling illegal cigarettes to children for as little as £5 has been shut down.

The Blue Shop in Stockton Town Centre has been forced to close by a court after a trading standards sting found them selling dodgy tabs.

Officers found a packet of cigarettes on sale for just a fiver, well below the usual price of more than £12.

They did not have standardised packaging or required a unique identification number.

Teesside Magistrates Court also heard of complaints that kids as young as 14-years-old had bought the tobacco products.

Magistrates ordered the shop to close for the next three months.

Carolyn Nice from Stockton Borough Council, said: “This is another excellent result for our Trading Standards team, who have acted swiftly and decisively to bring this closure order forward.

“The fact that these illegal cigarettes were also being sold to children is particularly concerning – and the closure order is another example of the zero-tolerance approach we take.

“Of course, we always encourage residents to report any sales of illicit tobacco to us so we can take the necessary action. Our Trading Standards team can be reached by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk.”

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It comes as part of a national trading standards operation to tackle the sales of illicit tobacco.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: "The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law.

"Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."