A shop which sold butane gas to a 13-year-old has been fined £1,000 after being caught in a trading standards operation aimed at preventing solvent abuse. More than 1,000 children have been killed over the past 20 years from solvent abuse, and recent laws have been introduced to prevent the sale of lighter fuel to anyone under the age of 18.

The success of this operation comes after the Government held up Kingston as one of the best case studies for its tobacco enforcement protocol, which aims to help local authorities prevent the sale of cigarettes to minors.

The ForBuoys Shop in Coombe Road, New Malden, was fined £1,000 by Kingston Magistrates' Court, after trading standards sent in a 13-year-old test purchaser to buy the lighter fuel, which is often inhaled by youngsters.

Ted Forsyth, chief trading standards officer, said: "Kingston and other local authorities have been pressing the Government to change legislation. There is a problem with solvent abuse, and we need to protect our children."

The initiative run by the council to catch offenders is ongoing and the maximum fine is £5,000. Mr Forsyth said: "The size of the fine shows the seriousness of the offence. It shows that everyone in this area does not tolerate that sort of thing, and hopefully it will be a deterrent to people."

Kingston is urging the Government to introduce tougher legislation on the sale of solvents.