MORRISONS in Evesham has voluntarily raised the minimum age at which a person may buy tobacco products and knives from 16 to 18.

The Morrisons Task 21 scheme, where customers who do not look to be 21 are asked to confirm that they are 18 years or older, currently includes the sale of alcohol, fireworks and butane gas.

From this week, it will be expanded to include all tobacco products, knives and non-cartridge disposable razor blades.

Steve Guoite, general manager of Morrisons in Evesham said: "As a responsible retailer, we have taken this action voluntarily and in advance of new legislation, believing it to be the right thing to do."

"A recent BBC survey suggested that only 23 per cent of children under 16 who tried to buy tobacco found it difficult to do so and that four out of five people backed lifting the legal age to 18 on all tobacco products."