A shop has been shut down after being caught selling illegal and counterfeit cigarettes.
The Westbury Shop on Westbury Street in Thornaby sold the dodgy tabs to children, a court heard this week, with some packs on sale for just £5.
Trading standards officers conducted test purchases and found the cigarettes on sale did not carry the right health warnings, Stockton Council said.
Bosses were given a warning stop their illegal trade in early December, but during a later test purchase the illict tobacco remained on sale.
Magistrates on Teesside shut the shop down for three months on Thursday (December 18)
Councillor Norma Stephenson from Stockton Council said: “Customers buying this tobacco are putting their health at risk because they do not know what they are putting into their bodies.
“It is vital that we continue with a zero-tolerance approach to these businesses and secure closure orders.
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“Our trading standards team deserve a huge pat on the back for acting on information from the public to get the Westbury Shop closed.
"I'd like to encourage local people to continue reporting any sales of illicit, counterfeit tobacco to us, as well as any reports of underage sales so we can take the necessary action."
Lord Michael Bichard, chair of National Trading Standards, said: “The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people."
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