TRADING Standards has not tested any North Devon shops in the past three years to see if they are selling knives or fireworks to underage customers.

The consumer watchdog has only conducted test purchase operations for alcohol and tobacco since December 2008.

During that time, 30 businesses were caught selling alcohol to underage customers and six shops were caught supplying tobacco to those under the age of 18.

Devon County Council's Trading Standards team will not name the businesses that were caught.

Since December 2008, Trading Standards has conducted 136 alcohol and tobacco test purchase operations in North Devon and Torridge.

The operations see police and Trading Standards officers accompany children to pubs, shops and off-licences to see if they are challenged for identification.

However, no operations to detect illegal knife or firework purchasing have been carried out during this time.

Devon County Council spokesman Hannah Wicks said: "Knife related crime is rare in North Devon and there is no indication from the police or Safer North Devon that test purchasing work in that area is required.

"Trading Standards carried out several operations aimed at the sale of fireworks some years ago and the results showed compliance was extremely good.

"It is therefore unlikely that it would show less compliance now.

"We are committed to working in partnership with local business and agencies to reduce the sale of age restricted goods to those under aged.

"This approach has seen improved results in Devon and we aim to continue to combine enforcement action with local information sharing, education, business support and community involvement to bring about change."