THE discovery in a Ryedale school of a flick knife in the guise of a cigarette lighter has triggered a major campaign to clamp down on lethal weapons being sold to children.

It was only the quick thinking of a teacher in the school, which has not been named, that resulted in the lighter and its concealed blade being confiscated from the 15-year-old pupil, said a spokesman for North Yorkshire's education authority.

As a result, schools across the county are now on alert, because trading standards officers stepped in and found that a catalogue of weapons has been sold at car boot sales in the Ryedale and Scarborough areas.

The situation is seen against the recent tragedy in the Lincolnshire town of Louth where a schoolboy was stabbed to death recently.

North Yorkshire's education spokesman said that a prosecution could result from the discovery of the lighter.

Such items were being smuggled into schools in acts of bravado and creating a macho image, he believed. "It speaks volumes for the teaching profession that they are alert to the situation, especially after the cigarette lighter incident was discovered."

He added that trading standards officers had bought 18 such lighters, mainly at car boot sales in the Ryedale and Scarborough area.

Other lethal weapons such as knives with the horrific names of "cat skinners", "throat slitters" and ninja throwing knives are all easily available to children in North Yorkshire, said North Yorkshire County Coun Carl Les, the authority's executive member with responsibility for trading standards.

"I'm greatly concerned at the availability of knives to young people that has been demonstrated by our research. All honest retailers have an absolute obligation to ensure they do everything they can to avoid a young person buying a knife or sharp-bladed implement. If retailers fail to act responsibly, then they are likely to face prosecution."

He added: "There is no rhyme or reason why a knife should be built into and concealed within a cigarette lighter. It is extremely worrying that these items have been found on sale across North Yorkshire and even confiscated off a child at school."

Coun Les urged parents to be vigilant. "The range of items obtained by trading standards officers over the internet appals me. A number are being offered in contravention of legislation. They are marketed in a very provocative way which can only be dangerous to young people coming across them on the internet."

The county authority brought in consumer affairs minister Gerry Sutcliffe who unveiled the findings as part of a keynote speech to mark the start of National Consumer Week.

In addition to finding similar cigarette lighter-knives at the car boot sales, trading standards officers also seized similar concealed knives which are banned under the Criminal Justice Act from a seafront shop at Scarborough.

They also carried out a range of test purchases across the county using young volunteers.

"Worryingly, they found that half of all the retailers were prepared to sell knives, blades or axes to children as young as 13," said Coun Les.

Items bought over the internet by the officers included a 17-inch military hunting knife, a two-inch curved knife described as a "throat slitter", razor-sharp axes and throwing knives.

Latest Home Office statistics show a rise in a knife culture across Britain. Figures rose from 2,559 in 1995 to 3,570 in 2000.

The largest group of offenders are between ages 10 and 17, said Coun Les.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, November 12, 2003