About 2,000 super-strength vapes for teens seized

Trading standards says the illegal vapes seized were clearly advertised for children

Nearly 2,000 illegal vapes - up to six times over the legal limit - have been seized by trading standards officers in shops selling them to underage people.

In a store in Greater Manchester officers found a secret compartment with super-strength vapes designed to appeal to children.

Some vapes were so potent children have collapsed after using them, they said.

Vapes were also being used as a tool to sexually exploit children, according to Greater Manchester Police.

The force is part of the Rochdale Sunrise team - made up of police, trading standards and housing and social workers - which tackles child exploitation.

It said a teenage test purchaser was able to buy vapes in two shops without being asked for identification.

PC Mark Milner said it was "scary" children as young as 13 could be served and it was one of the team's "biggest worries".

• Smoking decline stalls since pandemic - study

• How dangerous is vaping - and why the concern over young vapers?

• Assessing the impact of e-cigarette use in schools

One store was found to have a secret compartment behind shelving which opened by pulling a hidden lever. Inside were vapes six times over the legal limit.

Rochdale Trading Standards officer, Dennis Chalmers, said some had names like 'Skittles' to appeal to youngsters.

"You can clearly see they are advertising them to children," he said.

One shop had a secret compartment in the wall to hide illegal vapes

Mr Chalmers added it would be "very worrying" if a child did use the illegal vapes "because you don't know what's inside them".

"It could be anything because they have not been tested and we have had occasions where children have collapsed at schools because of inhaling these," he said.

Greater Manchester Police said vapes have also become "a big tool for sexual and criminal exploitation".

"Young girls have been asked for sexual favours by shopkeepers in return for vapes," said PC Milner.

He said they are also being used as a gateway into county lines.

"Drug dealers get young males to sell vapes locally to their friends and in schools as a test. It shows if the children are capable of selling and making money and that's when the drugs take over."

"They then get them to move drugs across the country," he added.

"Our main priority is to try and educate at school and at home to notice the signs of exploitation."

He said: "It's not just a problem in Rochdale, it is a nationwide problem."

"We are going to continue doing these operations to stop exploitation and protect vulnerable children."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]