Illegal vapes and fake tobacco worth £300,000 have been seized across Hampshire in the last year.

The county council's Trading Standards team seized the haul of items as it continues to crack down on retailers selling the products to children.

Trading Standards regularly visit businesses to ensure retailers are complying with the law and that the correct measures are in place to prevent underage sales.

This includes conducting test purchases and if a business is found to be selling to anyone underage, or selling illegal products an investigation is launched which could led to them being prosecuted.

Regulatory services boss at the council, Cllr Russell Oppenheimer said there has been an "alarming rise in vaping by young people" adding that "parents are rightly concerned".

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“The vast majority of traders in Hampshire act within the law but we are putting more resource into catching the irresponsible minority whose actions put people at risk.

“Our Trading Standards team has ramped up activity to clamp down on illegal and underage sales and, as a result, we have seized large amounts of illegal vapes that breached the legal limit of nicotine or that were sold illegally to underage people.

“We have also seized pouches of counterfeit tobacco which are not subject to the usual manufacturing standards and could contain any substances.

“This haul of 15,000 contraband items has been kept out of the hands of consumers and will now be destroyed.

“This is a great result that underscores our commitment to keeping people in Hampshire safe.”

Anyone needing to report information concerning underage or illicit sales of cigarettes and vapes can contact Hampshire Trading Standards directly.