​Last November, Trading Standards Officers discovered a quantity of illegal foreign cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco in a Ledbury Convenience Store. The products were hidden behind the counter and in cookers in a rear kitchen. In 2024, the shop had already received a breach‑of‑conditions letter after officers identified failures to comply with its licence conditions. During the most recent inspection, officers also found evidence of suspected underage sales and illegal vape products. The Licensing Sub-Committee ruled that the issues were serious and agreed to revoke the shop’s licence. In agreeing to revoke the licence, the licensing sub-committee concluded that the matters brought before them were “significant and serious in nature involving criminal activity and failure to protect children from harm over an extended period of time.” Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Roads and Regulatory Services, Cllr Barry Durkin, said: “This kind of illegal activity has no place in Herefordshire. “The sale of illicit tobacco and breaches of license conditions undermine the law, damage legitimate businesses and put our communities at risk. “I thank our Trading Standards and Licensing teams for their thorough work in bringing this matter forward. Where businesses fail to meet their legal responsibilities, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action. “This decision sends a clear message: if you break the rules, we will act.”