COUNCIL officials are investigating reports that cigarettes are being sold from ice cream vans around Darlington.

Although there are no licensing laws preventing ice cream vans selling cigarettes, vans in Darlington are subject to extra restrictions.

Darlington Borough Council has made it a condition of their mobile trading rules that only ice cream and confectionery can be sold from the vans.

But at a recent council meeting, Councillor John Williams, leader of the council, said a van which he often sees in Milton Street in the town openly advertises the sale of cigarettes.

Other councillors said they had seen cigarettes being sold from ice cream vans and were unsure of the licensing laws.

A council spokeswoman said: "We do not know what the requirements are for other towns, but ice cream vans that come into Darlington must only sell ice cream and confectionery. We are currently trying to find out which, if any, vans in the town are selling cigarettes.

"It may just be that the vendors do not know the rules in Darlington, but if we find anyone breaking the conditions of sale, we will warn them."