More than 1,000 illegal e-cigarettes seized from Gloucestershire shops
The e-cigarettes' safety couldn't be guaranteed
The Trading Standards service confiscated 1,500 disposable e-cigarettes being sold illegally from shops in Cheltenham and Cirencester.
The e-cigarettes, sold under brands such as 'Puff Bar', 'Elf Bar' and 'Geek Bar', didn't show the required labelling including safety information and a warning to keep away from children.
They also failed to display details of the nicotine content and strength per dose or any traceability information such as batch codes or importer details.
Moreover, none of the items seized had been approved for sale by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) so their safety couldn't be guaranteed.
Sarah Scott, executive director of adult social care and public health, said: "In recent years, nicotine vaping products have become the most popular aid used by smokers trying to quit and they are far less harmful than cigarettes.
"Whilst they can be a really useful tool to tackle tobacco addiction, it is imperative that users have access to quality products that have been approved by the MHRA to ensure consumer safety."
Officers first identified the e-cigarettes through mystery shoppers visiting businesses to check if their products met legal safety standards.
Trading Standards officers will work with these businesses to educate them on which items shouldn't be sold. They will also help them identify legitimate stock.
Councillor Dave Norman added: "This work is essential in ensuring that any vaping products placed on the market are legal and can be used with confidence. Hundreds of non-compliant e-cigarettes have already been removed from sale but there may be others out there."
The official advice from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is only to use approved e-cigarettes and to never leave them unattended when charging.