ILLEGAL tobacco, out-of-date meat and fake DVDs have been seized from shops in Pendle during a major blitz on rogue traders.

Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards officers joined forces with Lancashire Police and Pendle Council’s licensing team to swoop on 26 shops and pubs.

Inspectors found illegal tobacco in six shops, out-of-date meat in six shops and counterfeit DVDs at one premises.

Some of the tobacco was counterfeit, while some was non-duty-paid or packaged bearing the wrong health warnings.

In addition, five were found failing to comply with legislation designed to reduce the underage sales of tobacco and some traders had unpriced stock.

During the visits, traders were advised on steps they could take to avoid selling alcohol, tobacco or lighter refills to children.

Several agreed to improve their existing systems, while advice was also given on preventing the recurrence of any anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol.

People are being warned of the dangers of buying cheap tobacco and out-of-date food.

County Councillor Albert Atkinson, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said: “Cheap tobacco is a real problem in East Lancashire — it increases the amount people smoke, makes it more difficult for smokers to give up and is readily available to children.

“People who sell such items in our county can expect to be dealt with in a robust manner.”

The inspections were a mixture of routine checks and officers acting on complaints from residents.

Pendle’s pubs were given a glowing report after officers found that all alcohol was genuine and full-strength.

Trading Standards boss Paul Noone said: “We are pleased that the pubs we inspected are putting their customers first by selling quality, correctly measured products.”