Hundreds of vapes made to look like children’s toys have been seized.
Among them was a bright pink one that resembled a children’s milkshake.
It was called ‘Twister Bar’ and is a strawberry ice cream flavour with a cartoon character on the front.
Some had tanks that were 20ml, ten times the legal limit, and enough for 7,000 puffs.
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Currently, the limit in the UK is 2ml.
A total of 326 vapes were seized during the raid.
Durham County Council launched the investigation after being tipped off by members of the public.
It comes after the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned of the dangers of kids vaping two days ago.
Dr Mike McKean, vice president for Policy and Paediatric Respiratory Consultant, said: “Youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children.
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“And I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis.”
The council’s trading standards visited three shops, filling over a dozen bags with illegal vapes.
Cllr John Shuttleworth, cabinet member for highways, rural communities and community safety, said: “Retailers must make sure the products they sell comply with UK regulations.
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“All of the vapes seized in this operation had oversized tanks and none of them had been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
“We encourage all retailers to ensure they only source such products from a reputable supplier.
“It was particularly concerning to find a pink toy-shaped vape branded as a strawberry ice cream ‘Twister Bar’ with a cartoon illustration on the side.
“It’s the first time we’ve come across this particular product in County Durham and we’re keen to make parents and carers aware that these products are out there.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners to tackle the issue and remove illegal products from the marketplace when we find them.
“Retailers must also act responsibly by making sure the products they sell comply with UK regulations and training their staff to prevent underage sales.”
UK law bans the sale of nicotine products to those under 18 and limits how much nicotine and e-liquid can be contained in disposable vapes.
Since March last year, Durham County Council have seized almost 5,500 illegal vapes worth £66,000.
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