Two shop owners who stored fireworks next to matches, lighters, spirits and other flammable items have been fined £3,480.

As well as the unsafe storage of explosives at Oval Newsagents in Blackfen, a sales assistant was caught selling fireworks to a teenager under the age of 18.

The 16-year-old test purchaser bought two boxes of Bonfire Day goodies on October 28 last year, and was not challenged about his age.

Trading Standards later visited the shop's stockroom and found fireworks being stored unsafely - in a cabinet alongside flammable materials such as matches, cigarette lighters, paper and cognac.

The drawer of the metal cabinet containing fireworks was left ajar.

And the statutory warning stating that it is illegal to sell fireworks or sparklers to anyone under the age of 18 was not on display.

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When challenged, the sales assistant admitted to thinking the test purchaser was under-age, and said she did not know where the Challenge book, to list challenges in the sale of age-related products, was kept.

In his interview, Oval co-owner Dinesh Patel, 66 of Braundton Avenue in Sidcup, said he did not display the statutory notice because he thought this Challenge 25 notice - for sale of alcohol - was enough.

His wife Indira Patel, 62, said she had told the shop worker to ask for ID for sale of cigarettes, alcohol and lottery cards, but had forgotten about fireworks.

Last year, a former business partner of the couple signed a caution regarding the sale of fireworks to minors.

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During sentencing, the court heard how the unsafe storage of fireworks had jeopardised the health and safety of everyone in the vicinity.

Mr and Mrs Patel both pleaded guilty to unsafe storage, under-age sale and failure to display statutory notice relating to fireworks - at Bexley Magistrates' Court on Monday, August 24.

They received the same fines - £250 for the underage charge, £50 for the statutory notice, and £400 for the unsafe storage.

They were both ordered to pay court costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge.

The couple have chosen not to sell fireworks anymore.

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Bexley Council leader Teresa O'Neill OBE said: "The defendants were putting everyone close by at risk.

“It was the height of irresponsibility, aggravated even further by selling fireworks to a 16 year old, having made no attempt to challenge the purchaser’s age, and by not displaying a statutory warning.

"This was in total disregard to clear legislation in place to protect minors."