A CRACKDOWN on shops which sell alcohol and cigarettes to children started today.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards officers will be out all this week targeting businesses who flout the law.

And they have promised tough action, including prosecutions.

Today sees that start of National Consumer Week and the theme is community safety.

Senior officers at Trading Standards believe under-age sales pose a grave risk.

They plan to hit hard the shops and market traders who sell fireworks, alcohol, cigarettes and other products to young people.

A series of high-profile operations are planned in several areas of the county.

Shops will be visited by trading officials and youngsters will be used to make test purchases.

A spokesman for Trading Standards said: "Under-age sales are a growing problem that affects the whole of West Yorkshire.

"It is particularly prevalent at this time of year, with firework sales accounting for the majority of the complaints received by our helpline.

"But age-restricted products such as alcohol being sold to minors can lead to a number of other anti-social behaviour problems and it is something this service is committed to tackling".

Councillors and MPs will join trading standards officials on some of the visits to shops.

They also hope to step up prom- otion of the Proof Of Age card scheme.

The scheme was introduced in Leeds and Wakefield and is shortly to be set up in Calderdale.

The scheme aims to ensure that retailers use the "No card, no sale" approach on age-restricted products.

All children nearing the age of 16 can pick up a card to prove their age.