A TRADING standards department hopes to receive backing to continue enforcement action against retailers who sell tobacco to under-age children.

Councillors in Darlington will be asked to approve a programme of inspections of premises that sell tobacco, and places with cigarette machines.

Complaints of alleged offences will be investigated and test purchasing carried out.

The council will also launch a publicity drive to raise retailers' awareness of its stance on selling cigarettes to schoolchildren.

The law on the sale of tobacco means the council has to consider the issue each year.

John Buxton, Darlington Borough Council's director of development and environment, is urging councillors to back the proposed measures when they meet tomorrow.

A spokesman for Darlington Primary Care Trust said: "We support the inclusion of a proactive test purchasing programme and feel this should feature strongly in the action plans over the coming years, linked to the number of prosecutions as an indicator of success.

"The majority of people who smoke are young, so we need to target this end of the market."