A SHOP in Saltcoats has had a number of illegal tobacco products seized.

It follows a visit by trading standards personnel to a store in the town as part of an operation alongside local police.

Ayrshire police said that 64 packs of counterfeit cigarettes and six pouches of illicit tobacco were taken from the store.

It follows a multi-agency day of action that led to more than 350 vape and tobacco products being seized last week at a store in Irvine last week - and a similar raid on a store in Kilmarnock.

Steven Bodys from North Ayrshire Trading Standards and Police Scotland's preventions and interventions officer, PC Jenner, have continued their checks in the North Ayrshire Council area following the Irvine find - leading them to the Saltcoats discovery.

The action has formed part of a wider police response to concerns from members of the local community about the increase in young people reportedly acquiring vape and tobacco products - despite being under the legal purchase age of 18.

Following the raid, PC Jenner said: "Following on from the illegal products found last week, this latest seizure is a further example of illicit products out there.

"Counterfeit cigarettes are cheap copies that look like well-known brands - but are also often linked to organised gangs and other types of crime, including human trafficking, drug supply and money laundering.

"Aside from this seizure of illicit products, the majority of local retailers demonstrated stringent 'Challenge 25' protocols, selling UK-compliant vape and tobacco products."