A shop has been forced to shut for three months after illegal tobacco was found.

Station Mini Mart in Rainham was issued with a closure notice on Tuesday by police officers.

The following day, a closure order was granted by Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court and will remain in place for three months.

It follows a warrant that took place on April 21 where officers uncovered 14,743 cigarettes and 3,900 grams of tobacco.

The items were either counterfeit or were not in compliance with regulations.

The closure of the Mini Mart in Station Road comes after eight shops were raided in Gravesend earlier this week in what is believed to be the biggest co-ordinated closure of such stores by a local authority in the UK.

The operation on Wednesday afternoon was led by Gravesham council and supported by Kent Police, KCC Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs.

The premises were served closure notices under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Now Sevenoaks magistrates have issued three-month closure orders on all eight stores having reviewed evidence of activity related to the sale of illegal tobacco products gathered by the partner agencies over several months.

The eight shops which have been closed down are:

• Monika’s International, Queen Street, Gravesend

• Baltic Groceries, Queen Street, Gravesend

• Milton Road Mini Mart, Milton Road, Gravesend

• Mila Groceries, Milton Road, Gravesend

• Milano Grocery, Milton Road, Gravesend

• 5* Eastern European Mini Supermarket, Parrock Street, Gravesend

• New Road Groceries, New Road, Gravesend

• Smart Mini Mart, Pelham Road South, Gravesend