A newsagent has been convicted of selling fireworks to underage teenagers.

Kashif Rashid, of Kash News, on Constable Street, Gorton, and his employee Rashid Ahmed, have been ordered to pay almost £1,500 after being caught out by trading standards officers.

They handed over a packet of `dancing red devils mini rockets' to a 15-year-old girl sent in by Manchester council. The sale took place in October 2007 but the pair were not convicted until last Wednesday.

They were found guilty in their absence at Manchester Magistrates' Court. Ahmed was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 costs while Rashid, who owned the shop at the time, was fined £700 and ordered to pay £470 costs.