A SHOP in the centre of Dudley has been shut down for three months, after a trading standards investigation discovered it was selling illegal and counterfeit cigarettes.

European Food Express, in High Street, faces the three month closure after Dudley Council obtained a closure order from the courts.

The order also means the people running the shop are banned from entering the premises during its duration.

The shop was first raided in 2016 where illegal cigarettes were found and confiscated.

Follow-up visits by trading standards inspectors discovered illegal cigarettes and tobacco were still being sold from the premises.

Councillor Cathy Bayton, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "This is the first time that anti-social behaviour powers have been used by trading standards in the central England region to close down a shop selling illegal tobacco.

"The case underlines the commitment of Dudley trading standards to safeguarding fair, legitimate and lawful trading in Dudley, and the removal of rogue businesses that cause considerable nuisance in the community and damage legitimate traders.

"We won’t hesitate to use these powers against other offending premises to disrupt this criminal activity.

"The trade in illegal tobacco deprives legitimate businesses of revenue, robs the taxpayer of money that could be spent on schools and hospitals and frustrates attempts to help people quit smoking.

"While all smoking is harmful, illegal tobacco is sold at low prices and without the necessary health warnings, which makes it easier for children and young people to get hooked on smoking."

She added: "With a thriving college and lots of young people in our town, we need to take action to protect them from the kind of harm this illegal trade has on them.”

The council has the option to ask the courts for a further three months to be added to the closure order before it expires.