FIVE more shops have been closed down for selling illegal tobacco and vapes, it had been announced.

The shops, four in Torbay and one in Honiton, were closed down for three months each following a joint operation by Devon & Cornwall Police and Heart of the South West Trading Standards.

Plymouth Magistrates Court granted the closure orders at a hearing on Thursday, July 17, following an application by Devon & Cornwall Police.

The three-month closure orders can be extended if necessary.

All the shops had previously been warned about what they were selling – and continued to trade illegally regardless.

Police and trading standards officers jointly served the closure notices after previous inspections had revealed stashes of illegal products.

The hidden items were found with the help of specialist detection dogs.

The closed shops are: American Shop in Torquay; Palace Mini Market in Paignton; Tower Store in Paignton; Paignton Express and the Karina Store in Honiton.

Torquay Inspector Rob Harvey said: ‘Police will continue to work with colleagues at Trading Standards to take action and reassure the public that information reported to us will be acted upon.

‘This is a significant step to get four commercial premises (in Torbay) closed on the same day by the court and sends a strong message to businesses that we will not tolerate illegal sales which could harm the public’s health.

‘We want to safeguard local communities and respond to concerns.

‘We have found that this type of illegal activity can also harm trade for legitimate local businesses and is often linked to offences of modern-day slavery and exploitation’.