A trading standards operation to catch shopkeepers selling fireworks to young people aged under 18 has drawn a blank in Oxfordshire.

The county council's trading standards department joined forces with Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Warwickshire county councils to send children aged between 12 and 14 to 50 premises to find out if they would be sold fireworks.

Only one sale was made in Shropshire. In Oxfordshire, there were no sales in 11 attempts.

The undercover fireworks audit was part of a cross-county collaboration by trading standards officers.

David Sibbert, chief trading standards officer for Oxfordshire County Council, said: "I am pleased the message is getting across to retailers about their responsibility to ensure that sales are only made to those aged 18 or over.

"We will be undertaking more work in this area, so everyone needs to stay on their toes."

Anyone who sells fireworks to people under 18 is liable to a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months.