AN UNDERCOVER army of 13-year-olds has been recruited by trading standards officers as part of a clampdown on cigarette vending machines.

The investigation will be conducted across East Lancashire after a survey revealed that children were buying cigarettes from machines in pubs, train stations and leisure centres.

In a similar investigation in the Midlands, 13-year-olds were sent into 48 selected hotels and pubs and in 46 cases the youngsters were able to walk in and buy cigarettes without anyone stopping them. Often they did it in full view of bar staff and hotel receptionists.

David Johnie, Lancashire Trading Standards' principal officer for age-related sales, said they were co-ordinating the investigation and would be sending the young watchdogs to Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington venues over the next two months.

He said: "The regulations on this are quite clear. It is an offence to allow children under the age of 16 to get access to cigarettes through vending machines, but that is what is happening across East Lancashire.

"We are going to run this exercise across East Lancashire and send children in to see if sales are allowed to take place.

"It is important that children cannot access tobacco in this way and we would warn people with vending machines on their premises to ensure that they are properly signed and in a place where they can be continually supervised. The present voluntary system of banning illegal sales is failing as most of the machines in the region are in the wrong place.

"If a sale takes place with one of our child volunteers then ultimately we could prosecute the owner of the premises but would also look to work with the retailer to make sure no further under-age sales take place."

Kim Hargreaves, tobacco control development manager for the East Lancashire Public Health Network, said: "The younger someone starts smoking the more likely they are to face health problems and addiction.

"Ease of access to tobacco has been cited as a significant predictor in adolescent smoking uptake."

The National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators has revised its rules so that the primary consideration when siting a machine is the need to prevent sales to children.

It is a criminal offence to sell cigarettes and tobacco products to children under 16 years old. The maximum fine is £2,500.

If a warning notice is not displayed, the owners of the machine and/or the premises may be liable to prosecution and result in a maximum fine of £1,000.

The courts may order the removal of vending machines from premises.