PARENTS are being warned to be vigilant after the seizure of hundreds of illegal and potentially dangerous vapes by Stockton's Trading Standards team.

Among the 800 disposable e-cigarettes were a number which appear to target children with cartoon characters on the packaging and flavours like bubble gum, double apple and icy cola.

Read more: Council sends out message to fly-tippers by seizing car involved in the crime

Some of the disposable vapes resemble colourful highlighter pens in their design.

None of the products seized across the Borough or voluntarily surrendered to Trading Standards over the past few weeks have been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

In total the haul equates to around 1.5 million puffs on an e-cigarette.

The Northern Echo:

Trading Standards officers will continue to work with local businesses to alert and educate traders about these illegal vapes and make them aware of items which should not be sold.

In particular the vapes should not contain more than 2ml of e-liquid and the actual nicotine content of the e-liquid itself should not exceed 2%.

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “A number of these products are clearly designed to be attractive to children, and are potentially harmful to health.

Read more: Gang of violent youths are leaving a community 'living and working in fear'

“Thankfully hundreds of these illegal e-cigarettes have now been removed from sale in our Borough, but there may be others out there.

"We would urge all parents to be vigilant, and if they come across any of these products please contact our Trading Standards team, call 01642 526560 or email trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054