Trading standards attended after a mum claimed a corner shop sold vapes to her 13-year-old daughter.
Laura Christine Ollerhead said her daughter bought vapes from Tranmere Convenience Store on Borough Road in Tranmere on Tuesday (April 11) and Wednesday (April 12) this week. She shared a video with the ECHO of her confronting staff on Wednesday about the alleged sale that day.
However, when approached by the ECHO, staff at the shop denied selling to the schoolgirl. They said she came into the shop on Tuesday with a 22-year-old, who had ID and bought a vape.
READ MORE: 'Caring' mum always had a smile on her face before sudden death
Wirral Council confirmed officers attended the store today, acting on concerns raised. Trading Standards provided advice to the member of staff on duty and reminded them of their responsibilities around underage sales.
You must be 18 or over to use or purchase e-cigarettes or e-liquids in the UK. Additionally, it is illegal for someone aged 18 or over to purchase vaping products for someone underage.
Laura found out about the vapes when she checked her daughter's phone and saw messages about buying them. She reported the shop to Merseyside Police and Wirral Council.
She told the ECHO: "I'm furious. It's a local shop, it's just at the bottom of the road. You see the video, they're gobsmacked at what I'm saying."
The video shows Laura sending her daughter back into the shop as she claims the shop has just sold her a vape. Laura also accuses the members of staff of selling her daughter a vape the day before.
Laura asked for the money back and the video appears to show a staff member handing back a £5 note. One staff member says a sale yesterday was made due to ID.
Laura told the ECHO: "I wasn't even bothered about the £5 to be honest. I made a point of saying 'give me my money back for the vape', so he couldn't deny that he had just sold it, because he gave me the money back."
"They're gobsmacked. They probably didn't think I'd be recording. They're lost for words. They didn't know what to say. One just walked away from me and started restocking.
"They've been caught - they didn't know what to say. If they get a fine, they might think twice about doing it again."
When the ECHO visited the shop on Friday, the same members of staff in the video were working. One member of staff claimed the accusations were not true.
He said the 13-year-old girl came in on Tuesday, with a friend who was 22. He said a vape was sold to the 22-year-old with ID but denied that a vape was sold on Wednesday. Additionally, he said he paid the money back for the vape that was bought on Tuesday, rather than one on Wednesday.
Laura denied this and said her daughter does not have a 22-year-old friend. She also claimed her daughter did not ask an adult to buy a vape for her,
When the ECHO asked to look at the staff's CCTV, the member of staff said it was not working.
Get all the latest Eurovision 2023 news straight to your inbox
READ NEXT
'Lovely' couple devastated after 'stolen' Audi crashes into their house
Young mum 'felt at ease' when teenagers approached her son in park
Man, 19, arrested on suspicion of murdering Sam Rimmer
Masked thug pointed 'gun' at terrified barman and told him 'you have till 12 to pay the money'
M&S shoppers spot £45 'to-die-for-bag' that's a dupe of £400 Loewe version
