ILLEGAL vapes have been seized from stores in North Ayrshire - with one single product found to contain around 560 cigarettes' worth of nicotine, according to police.

Banned items were seized from two stores after inspections were carried out by Police Scotland and trading standards officials at vape stockists in the Stevenston, Kilbirnie and Beith areas.

Police said the visits - carried out on Wednesday, September 13 - were in response to "concerns highlighted by the community".

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Several retailers demonstrated compliance in their age-verification checks and UK-approved Nicotine Vapour Products.

"However, numerous non-compliant disposable vape products were found in two stores and seized for destruction.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Some of the illegal vape products seized by Ayrshire police.

"Some disposable vapes seized contained well over ten times the nicotine content allowed in UK vapes - approximately 560 cigarettes worth of nicotine in one disposable vape product.

"If you know of stores selling to young persons under 18 or selling illicit/counterfeit nicotine products, please report them."

Anyone with information or concerns about sales of nicotine vapour products or compliance with the rules should contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers Scotland anonymously on 0800 555111.