A TILLICOULTRY man has been caught cold selling cigarettes to kids from the back of an ice cream van. 

Clackmannanshire Council has ordered the revocation of James Monteith’s street trader licence after reports had surfaced that he was breaking the law. 

On October 26, the team leader for Environmental Health and Licensing received a letter of complaint from the local authority’s civic licensing standards officer requesting the immediate suspension of the street trader’s licence. 

A licensing authority can order the suspension of a licence if they are of the opinion the activity being carried out by the trader could cause a serious threat to public order or safety. 

The Advertiser understands the ice cream van had been selling the cigarettes to young people in the area of Lornshill Academy. 

An interim suspension of the licence was then ordered, lasting for a maximum period of six weeks or until a hearing by the licensing authority. 

The Regulatory Committee then held the hearing on November 21 to determine whether to formally approve the suspension and consider whether to order further suspension or the official cancellation of the street trader’s licence. 

Following the hearing, the committee agreed to permanently remove Mr Monteith’s ability to trade. 

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: “The Regulatory Committee agreed to revoke the street trader licence of James Monteith, from Tillicoultry, following complaints from officers of the council concerning the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18. Any further action is a matter for Police Scotland.”