TRADERS in South Norwood are proving they are responsible retailers by signing up to a scheme to avoid selling restricted goods to underage customers.

Shops will be piloting "Agecheck Croydon" which involves staff asking for age ID from anyone who looks to be under 25.

The scheme has been launched by Croydon Council's Trading Standards team and will initially focus in South Norwood.

It covers the sale of alcohol, tobacco, butane gas, knives, fireworks and solvents to under 18s.

It also includes items which are illegal to sell to under 16s, including lottery tickets, spray paint, party poppers, chocolate liqueurs and petrol.

The council has produced an information and training pack to traders who have signed up for the scheme.

It has also run a series of seminars to ensure managers and staff are aware of their legal responsibilities.

The training reveals the warning signs which give people away when they know they are too young to buy a certain product.

Staff were taught how best to challenge a customer and how to refuse a sale if they fail to get the proof of age they need.

Steve O'Connell, Croydon Council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "We know from the test purchasing exercises that we do on a regular basis that most shops stick to the rules.

"But we have found that when till staff do slip up and sell things to underage customers it's often down to poor training or ignorance of the rules."