SHOPS in Darlington are complying with the law by advertising the rules about selling tobacco to young people.

Although the number of Trading Standards inspections of newsagents and other shops selling tobacco products has increased since last year, the number of people found not to be displaying warning notices to under-18s has fallen.

Between April last year and March this year, there were 75 shop inspections in Darlington under the Children and Young Person's (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991, an increase of 24 on the previous year.

The inspectors were looking for shops which sold tobacco products but did not display notices stating under-18s could not be served.

Only five per cent of the premises inspected were found not to be displaying warning notices, compared with 11 per cent the year before and 25 per cent in 1998-1999.

Inspectors also revealed that in the past year they have not received any complaints about specific shops selling tobacco to children.

A spokesman for the council said: "The level of infringements found at premises selling tobacco has reduced, even though the number of inspections has increased. This is likely to be related to the increase in the number of visits acting as a deterrent."

Because there were no specific complaints, Trading Standards officers did not use test purchasers, where under-age youngsters are sent into shops to see if they are challenged when they attempt to buy tobacco.

The system of inspections, with the possibility of test purchasers being used, will continue next year.