A shop in Swindon has been fined more than £3,000 for selling a knife set to a child.

Buyology Limited, which traded from the old Wickes stores in the Transfer Bridge Industrial Estate, was in court after the store sold a two piece knife set to a 15-year-old during a Swindon Council Trading Standards test purchasing operation.

The company pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on March 2 and was ordered to a pay a fine of £2,000, costs of £1,002 and a victim surcharge of £15 within 28 days.

The court heard that in July 2009, a volunteer aged 15 was able to purchase the knife set without being asked her age or for proof of age.

The sale was made by a sales supervisor who worked for the business for 15 months.

The company, which has five stores and 130 staff, said it had introduced additional training, a “Think 21” policy and improved its till prompt to alert cashiers.

The minimum age to buy knives was increased from 16 to 18 in 2007.