Police cadets were used to expose several premises in Cambridgeshire who were selling items to underage customers.

Almost a quarter of premises allowed members of the cadets to buy age-restricted products, such as alcohol and cigarettes, during visits in July and August.

The visits took place across all of the county’s districts after complaints and intelligence was received by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards.

Peter Gell, assistant director for regulatory services at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We take the sale of age restricted products incredibly seriously due to the associated health risks.

“As these visits show, we will not hesitate to take action if we receive intelligence on premises breaking the law.”

Mr Gell added: “We would urge anyone with concerns to report them to Citizens Advice so we can investigate.”

The county council’s trading standards officers were also supported by licensing colleagues from the likes of East Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Peterborough City Council.

Action against those premises will now be taken in line with Trading Standards’ enforcement policy which can range from a written warning, a caution or prosecution.

Val Thomas, deputy director of public health at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Restrictions on the sale of these products to young people are important as many adults who smoke and misuse alcohol start in their teenage years.

“It is important to support and prevent young people from adopting these behaviours that have a high risk of them developing poor health as they grow older.”

Paul Hawkins, licensing officer at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said visits like these are regularly carried out in checking that premises are following the law around the sale of age-restricted items.

“This recent activity was prompted by some concerns reported about alcohol, cigarette and vape sales to young people,” he added.

“Most premises passed the test and refused our cadets the sale of age-restricted products.

“However, there is still work to do and we would encourage anyone with concerns to report these to Citizens Advice.”

To report a trader selling age-restricted products to someone who is underage, you can contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or visit: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer.