A Thornton Heath shop owner has been handed a court bill of more than £2,000 after admitting to selling a set of knives to underage customers last October.

Susannah Ijaz, who runs household goods shop Best Bargain Centre, on the High Street, appeared at Croydon Magistates’ Court on February 28.

The shop was visited as part of a Croydon Council Trading Standards test-purchasing operation and two underage teenagers selected a four-piece craft knife – paying £2.99 for them without being challenged for ID by the cashier.

The shop is presently closed and undergoing refurbishment.