Unscrupulous traders who sell cigarettes and 18-rated videos to children are being targeted by Trading Standards officers.

A "shop a trader" hotline will allow callers to anonymously tip off officers about stores involved in illegal sales to youngsters.

The hotline will be open from Monday today MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21 until October 14, in a bid to root out persistent offenders.

It has been set up after surveys showing a disturbingly high proportion of Oxfordshire shops to be breaking the law.

Tom Edwards, of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said: "The problem of illegal under-age sales is on-going.

"One problem is that local people who are concerned are often unsure as to who to contact. Callers can leave their names and addresses or ring anony- mously." Last year eight of 31 stores surveyed in Oxfordshire were prepared to sell cigarettes to youngsters, while six out of 20 handed over videos to underage children.

But Trading Standards officers faced criticism when it emerged that only one offender was prosecuted - and even then a not guilty verdict was recorded. Mr Edwards said after studying each case warnings were thought to have been sufficient.

He promised that every complaint made on the hotline would be investigated and prosecution considered, with the maximum fine for selling tobacco to anyone under 16 being £2,500. The maximum fine under the Video Recordings Act is £5,000.

The hotline number is 01865 815604.

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