OVER 700 illegal nicotine products have been seized from just one store in Irvine.

It follows the latest in a number of raids of shops in North Ayrshire - where illicit tobacco pouches, cigarettes and illegal vape products have been taken.

Last week, another Irvine shop had nearly 400 products taken from them - and one Saltcoats shop had more than 50 illegal tobacco products taken away this week.

Though today, local police have shared images from their largest raid to date.

In one Irvine store alone, 101 packs of illicit rolling tobacco, 218 packs of counterfeit cigarettes and 385 illegal vape products were seized.

Some of these illegal vape products are advertised to contain over 7,000 puffs - the e-liquid nicotine equivalent of about 560 cigarettes.

They are also untested in the UK and often have incorrect health warnings, packaging or inferior electronic products within their construction.

As an example, the above right image shows an illicit vape that burst in transit. The thin outer packaging is all that now holds its contents.

The store was part of the latest round of checks conducted by Police Scotland officers alongside North Ayrshire Trading Standards - who took the products away.

The sale of nicotine vape products to the underaged is a common concern raised to local policing teams, which has driven this recent influx in activity.

Speaking after a previous store was caught with illegal nicotine products on sale, Police Scotland's local 'preventions and interventions officer', PC Jenner said officers would continue to work to disrupt their sale.

He 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.

"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."