Rogue ice cream sellers are selling cigarettes to Bradford children from their mobile vans, it was revealed today.

Trading Standards officers have received complaints that youngsters are being tempted with single cigarettes being sold at pocket-money prices.

The culprits are said to be operating in the Bradford district - targeting children by turning up outside schools.

Bradford Council is now being urged to crackdown on the illegal trade by keeping a register of all vans operating in the area, and Trading Standards are launching an undercover operation to catch the offenders.

The authority's executive member for homes and environment, Councillor Jim O'Neill, today promised to review the Council's food sales regulations.

Billy Briggs who owns Kendall's Ices - a family-run wholesale and retail manufacturer and supplier - says the "cowboy sellers" are damaging the industry's reputation.

His company, which is based at Hipperholme, operates 10 vans in Bradford and neighbouring districts.

Mr Briggs said: "This kind of thing is happening in Bradford. If they can't sell the kids ice creams they'll sell them sweets and even cigarettes - anything to get their money.

"My family has been in this business for 40 years. The industry doesn't need cowboys like this operating in the area."

Mr Briggs is angry that rogue sellers who are sacked by suppliers and manufacturers can start up somewhere else the next day.

He said: "If I were to catch one of our sellers supplying anything other than ice creams and lollies they would be out on their ear.

"But there is nothing to stop them setting up in another van. Individual sellers should be registered with the Council and those who don't stick to the law should be banned."

Coun O'Neill, said he wanted the sellers taken off the road and prosecuted.

"The only word to describe their actions is despicable," he said.

"I am very concerned by this and will be looking into the existing regulations on food sales and see what powers we have to stop these rogue traders."

And he appealed to members of the public to report the culprits to the environmental health officers or to Trading Standards officers.

"The public are our eyes and ears. We want them to keep a look out for these traders and pass on details such as the van registration, time and location.

"It is despicable that for the sake of 10 pence, or whatever they charge for a cigarette, these traders are encouraging children to smoke."

As well as breaking the law by selling tobacco to children under the age of 16, the unscrupulous traders are breaching rules which say cigarettes must be sold in packs and carry health warnings.

West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service is also appealing for help from the public in stamping out the illegal activity.

A spokesman said: "We have had complaints about this practice in West Yorkshire and we have fired a warning shot across the bows of those concerned telling them we will follow it up with a test purchase by a child. If they sell them a cigarette they will be prosecuted.

"Obviously we would like to hear from anyone who is concerned that a shop, ice cream van or anyone else is selling cigarettes - or alcohol for that matter - to minors."

Ice cream sellers are also being investigated in other parts of the country, particularly when they operate near schools.

Trading Standards Institute chief executive Allan Charlesworth said: "It is appalling that some ice cream sellers are taking advantage of youngsters in this way.

"They are tempting children to experiment with something harmful to their health. They know that youngsters probably cannot afford to buy a whole packet so are selling the cigarettes singly.

"I urge parents and teachers to be vigilant and recommend anyone who knows this is going on in their area to report it to their local Trading Standards Service."

Jane Bray, the Trading Standards Institute's lead officer for age-related sales, said the law was straightforward - 'no' to sales of cigarettes to anyone under 16 and 'no' to selling cigarettes in anything other than packs carrying health warnings.

National Association of Head Teachers' spokesman Chris Purser today vowed to bring the problem to the attention of its members.

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