MORE than one in three shops sold knives to under-age youngsters during a test by police.

Sussex Police sent shoppers aged under 18 to try to buy knives in 23 shops in Brighton and Hove on Saturday as part of a joint operation with trading standards

Brighton police said on Twitter: “We are disappointed to report eight failures where staff sold to someone under the age of 18.”

It added: “Follow-up action will now be taken to ensure local shops are working alongside us to keep our communities safe.”

Sussex Police has refused to name the shops involved.