A Blackburn man who evaded around £20,000 tax on tobacco has been given a suspended jail term.

Preston Crown Court heard Faizul Patel had been selling tobacco products at his newsagents, upon which duty had not been paid on the goods.

The 54-year-old of Oswald Street, Blackburn, was given twenty-eight weeks prison, suspended for a year.

Mr Patel was also ordered to carry out 40 hours unpaid community work and pay £500 prosecution costs.

He had pleaded guilty to an offence of evading duty on tobacco.

He accepted having sold such tobacco products for around four weeks.

Over 79,000 cigarettes were recovered and over 80 kilos of hand rolling tobacco.

Customs and Excise officers had visited his business and home.

Judge Andrew Blake told the defendant: "I don't really have any indication of how much you had sold.

"These offences are considered serious and given the amount of evasion, a prison sentence is indicated."

After the case a spokesperson for HM Customs and Excise said "Tobacco smuggling is not a small scale victimless crime.

"We urge members of the public, off licences and the newsagents trade, if they know of any suspicious activities, that may be linked to tobacco smuggling, to call our 24 hour number of 0800 59 5000."