Knives illegally sold to children

A 14-year-old girl and a boy aged 15 were sold knives illegally during an undercover operation in Cumbria.

Trading Standards carried out the series of test purchases using the young volunteers.

The boy was able to buy a knife in Penrith on three occasions out of 10, and the girl was able to buy a cook's knife in Ambleside on her only attempt.

It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone aged under 18 and the offence carries a maximum sentence of six months.

All four traders have been warned.

Phil Ashcroft, head of Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "Our test purchasers clearly looked under 18, we're not trying to hoodwink retailers, we're trying to make sure they follow the law.

"The legal age for buying a knife was raised from 16 to 18 last year and it's important that retailers understand the implications of breaking the law."

He added: "Fortunately knife crime is relatively low in Cumbria, but we need to ensure that this remains the case and we will be continuing our vigilance on this issue throughout the county in the coming months."