KNIVES, including one designed for throwing, were sold to a 15-year-old girl in an council run test.

Laws on knife sales were recently changed meaning no-one under the age of 18 could buy blades.

But Swindon Council trading standards department recently used a teenage girl for a number of trial purchases – and she managed to buy three.

The teenager, who was dressed in jeans and a jumper and did not wear make-up, purchased a throwing knife, a kitchen knife and Stanley knife in three separate stores.

She said: “I was really shocked at just how easily I was served.

“The knives were scary.”

The age restriction for knives and other bladed products is 18.

The legal change came into force in October 2007, the legal age previously being 16.

Trading standards officers visited 12 premises during the operation to make sure retailers were complying with the new age restriction.

Coun Brian Mattock, cabinet member for local environment and sustainability, which includes trading standards, said: “Carrying a knife is a serious offence. When we discover that retailers are selling them to young teenagers it becomes a huge concern to us, the police and parents.

“We want to help prevent crime, not encourage it. The sales of knives and other illegal items, such as alcohol, are a lethal cocktail which we are working hard to stamp out.”

An investigation will now be carried out into the three premises that sold the knives.

They will be offered advice and support and will be monitored in the coming months.

Wiltshire Police will also be speaking to the stores.