TWO shops accused of selling illegal tobacco are to have their alcohol licences reviewed.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards has called for Moor Stores, at 90 Leeds Old Road, Bradford, to be stripped of its licence after what it branded “extremely serious” incidents there.

It has also called for the licence of the International Food Store, at 512 to 514 Great Horton Road, Bradford, to be removed, even though it appears the business is no longer operating.

A licensing panel at Bradford Council will meet on Friday to consider both cases.

Papers published ahead of the meeting reveal the background to the reviews.

A report says Trading Standards had received intelligence indicating that Moor Stores, an off-licence and newsagent, was selling illegal tobacco.

It says that on December 1, 2015, an officer saw a packet of cigarettes being sold to a minor as part of a test purchase operation. A caution was issued.

Trading Standards then carried out test purchasing operations at the business on three separate dates in summer 2016, in response to complaints that the premises was dealing in illegal tobacco.

The report says: “A packet of illegal tobacco was sold on each date.

“On September 2 2016, West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS) officers found 720 sticks of illegal cigarettes behind the counter.

“These were signed over and an infringement report was sent to the owner.

“WYTSS continued to receive complaints about the business and on July 13 2017, WYTSS officers found 3,180 sticks of illegal cigarettes behind the counter.

“West Yorkshire Trading Standards considers the above matters to be extremely serious and therefore recommend revocation of the licence.”

The Telegraph & Argus contacted Moor Stores for comment but did not receive a response.

A separate report about the International Food Store, a world foods convenience store, says Trading Standards had also received intelligence that this business was selling illegal tobacco.

It says: “On October 29 2015, WYTSS carried out an inspection and found 6,260 sticks of illegal cigarettes concealed under the counter and 2,450 grams of illegal hand-rolling tobacco.

“WYTSS continued to receive complaints about the business and on August 10 2017, WYTSS officers found 2,180 sticks of illegal cigarettes behind the counter.

“West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service considers the above matters to be extremely serious as the owner has supplied illegal tobacco products and shown a blatant disregard for the law.”

The Telegraph & Argus visited the premises but it appeared the International Food Store was no longer trading there and a shop by another name was now occupying the site.