ALMOST a third of shops were caught selling cigarettes to under-16s during an undercover investigation in Glasgow.

ALMOST a third of shops were caught selling cigarettes to under-16s during an undercover investigation in Glasgow.

The findings by trading standards officers were revealed just weeks before the legal age for buying tobacco is raised to 18.

City council officials sent youngsters into 38 stores - from corner shops to supermarkets - as part of a "test purchasing" scheme.

And they found 12 of them were happy to sell tobacco to the children.

The council said today it was "disappointed" with the results, especially as the minimum age for buying cigarettes goes up from 16 to 18 on October 1.

Ruth Simpson, executive member for Land and Environmental Services, which runs trading standards, said: "Shop owners need to take responsibility when it comes to tobacco sales.

"It's not difficult to ask for ID and refuse sales where none can be produced.

"And it's not just about breaking the law either. It's about the health of this city's young people."

A council spokeswoman said: "Trading standards officers don't see the picture changing with the rise in age to 18.

"In fact they expect an increase in illegal sales as counter staff are pressured by an additional group of young smokers who may well have been purchasing tobacco for several years."

The spokeswoman said it was still decided whether the cases would be reported to the procurator fiscal.

She added: "During the test purchasing, officers travelled outwith the area the young person being used to test purchase lived.

"It was expected that counter staff would be less likely to sell to people they didn't recognise as local'.

"However, council staff were very disappointed it didn't seem to matter if the underage purchaser was not known to them."

The council said it would be handing out new counter notices signs to the 1400-plus outlets where tobacco is sold, to replace the existing 16-and-over warning signs.

It also invited the public to report shops which sell to underage kids by calling 0141 287 6681.

Under new laws passed at Holyrood, in line with similar changes at Westminster, owners of shops found flouting the law under test-purchase schemes will be given a formal warning letter.

If they are caught a second time, a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. The maximum fine if the case goes to court will be £2500.