Five undercover teenagers have been allowed to buy illegal blades in Somerset in recent random checks.

The County Council's Trading Standards team sent the 15 and 16 year olds in to test how many shops and market stalls are sticking to the law - but in a number of cases they bought hunting and carving knives ... and even an axe.

The traders which failed have been let off with a warning this time ... but told they could face a fine of up to five thousand pounds or a maximum prison sentence of six months if caught again.