A WARNING has been issued to retailers on Teesside after one was fined for selling a butane gas lighter refill to a 15-year-old.

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard that a shop assistant had sold the cigarette lighter refill to a young volunteer working with Stockton trading standards on an age-restricted goods exercise on June 1, last year.

The owner pleaded guilty to an offence under the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999, of supplying the product to a person under the age of 18.

The owner has since trained his three part-time members of staff with regard to age-restricted product sales.

The magistrates took into account the early guilty plea, imposing a fine of £100, and the shop owner was also ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £417.

Trading standards and licensing manager at Stockton Borough Council, David Kitching, said: "It is important that traders ensure they do not sell age-restricted products to under-age children.

"My advice is to ask all teenagers to provide proof of age."

The authority is working with the other Teesside authorities, Tees Health Authority and local schools in issuing Validate proof-of-age cards to all secondary school pupils.

Mr Kitching said: "I would urge all retailers to adopt the message No Proof, No Sale.