The fight against knife-related crime in Banbury has received a boost after the results came in from an operation to see if retailers would sell restricted goods to underage customers.

The findings revealed that only one of the 15 shops and market stalls approached in the town sold age-restricted goods, such as knives and aerosol paints, to two 12-year-old volunteers.

The initiative was conducted by Oxfordshire County Council, a trading standards officer and antisocial behaviour manager Pc Mike Ellis, from Thames Valley Police.

Pc Ellis said: "We are really pleased that shops in Banbury are acting in a very responsible way and refusing to sell age restricted goods, especially knives, to young people."

The shops that failed the test were given a warning.