A Welling shopkeeper has been forced to pay £3,120 by magistrates after admitting selling fireworks to a minor.

Owner of Costcutter in Upper Wickham Lane, 32-year-old Prakesh Patel appeared in Bexley Magistrates' Court on May 18.

Bexley’s Trading Standard investigated Patel, of Queens Road, over the offences that occurred in October last year.

Investigations were also carried out into the storage of fireworks at the store.

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The shop owner accepted he was negligent in the guidance and supervision of his staff.

Patel was prosecuted by Bexley Council and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay a contribution to costs of £1,500 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Environment and Leisure, Coun Peter Craske said: “We welcome this verdict and I want to thank the Council's trading standards team for pursuing this case.

"Fireworks can be dangerous which is why there are very clear laws in place governing how they are stored and the age at which people can buy them.

"I’m pleased that the magistrates saw fit to recognise the seriousness of both offences.”