A SHOP owner was fined £500 plus £175 costs yesterday for selling fireworks to a 15-year-old boy.

John King, of Kings of Saltburn, appeared before Guisborough magistrates charged with selling fireworks to a person apparently under 18.

He admitted selling a pack of ten rockets to the youngster, in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, in the prosecution brought by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The court heard that officers from the council's trading standards department uncovered the offence in a crackdown using teenage volunteers.

In mitigation, Mr King told magistrates that the offence was committed by a member of staff, but he accepted responsibility. He said he had given staff verbal advice, but that it was difficult to judge the ages of young people.

After the case, Jeff Bell, the council's chief trading standards officer, said: "We hope that the level of fine imposed will be a warning to other shopkeepers who are tempted to sell these products to under-age consumers."

The prosecution is the latest in a series of court cases and formal cautions to result from crackdowns on the sale of fireworks, cigarettes and alcohol.

Mr Bell said the campaign involving cigarettes had been particularly successful.

He said: "The council promotes the Validate proof of age card as an aid to retailers in confirming the age of their young customers, and we class it as a victory when traders say no."