Suffolk Trading Standards has seized more than 4,000 illegal nicotine vapes from shops in Felixstowe, Ipswich and Lowestoft in recent months.

Devices were also recovered from three shops in Ipswich by trading standards officers checking for compliance on advice issued after previous visits.

The businesses will now be subject to further investigation to consider whether they should face further action, which could include prosecution.

The legal UK limit on nicotine content in disposable electronic cigarettes is no more than 2% (20mg/ml) and must not exceed 2ml in capacity (around 600 puffs).

The disposable products seized contained oversized tanks, giving between 3,500 to up to more than 10,000 puffs.

The seizures saw 964 found at one shop, 867 in the second and 176 in the third.

Last November a total of 1,913 vapes were seized from shops in Lowestoft, Felixstowe, and Ipswich, while a further 2,500 were recovered in September from a shop in Ipswich.

Investigations into these seizures continue.

Used properly, vapes and e-cigarettes can be a successful way of helping people to stop smoking.

But criminals are capitalising on this, leading to a market for illegal vapes. In addition, some retailers sell vapes to underage children by using colourful packaging and sweet flavours.

Graham Crisp, Head of Suffolk Trading Standards, said: "It is disappointing that these sort of vapes continue to make their way on to the market despite the widespread publicity about how they breach the safety legislation and could be unsafe to use.

"That legislation is there for a reason - to help protect the public, and businesses who break those regulations can expect tough penalties.

"We will continue to carry out checks on retailers across Suffolk, taking legal action where necessary."

Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, said:  "Vaping plays a big part in helping smokers to quit, especially when used in conjunction with specialist support from a stop smoking service.

"However, devices such as these are simply trying to cash in on the problem of inappropriate vaping.

"This is excellent work by Suffolk Trading Standards, who are working continuously to tackle this problem."

Consumers can ensure the nicotine vape that they are purchasing is legal by checking the following:

•        That the tank of a vape is a maximum size of 2ml, and the largest refill bottle is 10ml in size or less

•        That all liquids come in childproof bottles displaying nicotine warnings and have an accompanying safety leaflet

•        That vapes have a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml, or 2%

•        That a maximum number of around 600 puffs is offered

Always buy vaping products from a reputable supplier such as a specialist vape shop, pharmacy, supermarket or a UK-based online retailer so they are covered by UK safety and quality regulations.

Anyone who suspects that a business is inappropriately selling vaping materials can report this in confidence to Suffolk Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.