AN IRVINE store has had nearly 400 illegal vapes, cigarettes and tobacco products seized from them.

It follows a police clampdown on the sale of these illicit products - and the age verification process of shops in the area.

Police Scotland's local 'preventions and interventions officer', PC Jenner, joined Steven Bodys of North Ayrshire Trading Standard in a recent multi-agency day of action where the products were recovered.

They say that the pair were checking several stores for their age verification methods and the types of vapes - officially 'nicotine vapour products' - sold.

It comes after police say numerous members of the local community told them of their concern for the increase in young people reportedly acquiring vape products, despite being under the legal purchase age of 18.

Following their checks at various stores, Police Scotland's Ayrshire branch shared images of the haul from one Irvine store - which they did not name.

They say in that shop alone 18 pouches of illicit tobacco, 59 packets of counterfeit cigarettes and 302 illegal vape products were seized.

Commenting after the recovering the haul, PC Jenner said: "Whilst we continue to receive reports of shops reportedly selling vapes to the under-aged and selling illicit tobacco and vape products, we will continue to work with partner agencies to disrupt them.

"We regularly assist the North Ayrshire Trading Standards team in their vital work to crack down on unscrupulous retailers and illegal products.

"This latest seizure is an example of some of the counterfeit products out there.

"However, it is also worth noting that several local retailers demonstrated stringent 'Challenge 25' protocols for their sale of UK compliant vape and tobacco products."

A similar raid at a shop in Kilmarnock recently saw more than 20,000 cigarettes, almost 6kg of tobacco and more than 100 disposable vapes seized by East Ayrshire trading standards officials.