NINE out of ten video shops in the Nelson area were caught out supplying 14 and 15 year olds with over 18-rated films.

Local retailers have been warned to keep to the age restrictions in future -- or face prosecution following the test purchases organised by Lancashire County Council's trading standards department.

Young boys and girls will now be used to carry out more test purchases as the experiment is widened across other parts of Lancashire, the trading standards department have warned.

One Pendle shop owner admitted: "I was one of those caught out, and I have to hold my hand up.

"The 15-year-old girl was served by my daughter who is 21. She saw a man hanging about outside who she took to be the girl's father. It is not unusual for adults to send their children into shops.

"If we think they are underage we go out, talk to their parents and ask them to pop into the shop. We cannot be responsible if the parents then supply it to the child.

"In this case she was supplied with the film Assassin starring Bridget Fonda. It is quite a mild film of its type, containing some violence.

"It is a bit of of a judgement call, but I have to hold my hand up and admit that the girl should have been asked her age. We run a very strict code, and I have instructed my staff to tighten up and to make sure it doesn't happen again."

The shop doesn't accept membership from under 18 year olds unless they are sponsored by their parents and a photograph is provided.

The Video Recordings Act requires videos to be appropriately classified as suitable for certain age groups and imposes penalties on traders who sell or rent videos to children below minimum age ratings.

County Coun Chris Cheetham, chairman of the county's finance and general purposes committee said: "Laws exist to protect children from the influence of excessively violent or explicit videos and films.

"We urge Lancashire businesses to ensure they are complying with the age restrictions which must be clearly labelled on all video cassettes."

Suppliers have been warned that failure to keep to the law could result in fines up to £5,000, or up to £20,000 if "unclassified" videos are supplied.