No questions as girl, 14, buys blade

The ease with which teenagers can buy lethal knives is demonstrated today.

A 14-year-old girl bought a six-inch lock-knife and an eight-inch kitchen knife without being asked her age.

Our investigation suggests the 1997 ban on the supply of knives to under-16s is being flouted. Marina Hughes-Onslow bought an Opinel lock-knife at Tottenham Court Road ironmonger Buck and Ryan and a Sabatier bread knife at Heal's. Staff selling knives to young people must ask for ID and record their own name, the customer's age and the date of sale.

A Heal's spokeswoman said: "All our staff are trained to ask any youngster buying a knife for ID." Buck and Ryan said staff were under strict instruction not to sell knives to under-16s.