PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson said he is encouraged by steps taken by Trading Standards against fake cigarettes after raising a resident’s concerns with them.

Mr Stephenson said: “The sale of illegal tobacco has been raised with me a number of times and recently I passed on a resident’s concern about a particular retailer to Trading Standards.

“I was assured this case would be investigated and was encouraged to hear the steps already being taken in Burnley and Pendle.”

Paul Noone, assistant director of Trading Standards at Lancashire County Council, said: “We are very proactive in the area of illicit tobacco.

“We have had five seizures in the last three weeks in the Burnley and Pendle areas.”