Four out of 10 shops across Medway were found to be selling knives to underage children in an undercover operation.

Medway Council’s Trading Standards team has been out checking if local businesses are complying with the age restriction controls that prevent under 18s buying knives.

An underage volunteer, accompanied by trading standards officers, visited 10 premises at the beginning of July, in an attempt to buy knives.

Although most refused to sell without a valid ID, four of the stores sold knives to the 15-year-old. These stores are now subject to an-ongoing investigation and could face formal action.

The council has not revealed the names of businesses while there are on-going investigations.

Peter Hicks, who is in charge of community safety, said: “Clearly, this is disappointing.

"Officers will be working with local businesses to make sure effective and adequate procedures are put into action to prevent a repetition of these results.

“This area of under age sale law is extremely important as the consequences of knife crime can be tragic.”