In the five years up to 2006 no one was jailed for selling a knife to a child, figures have revealed.

Seventy-one people were convicted of selling knives to under-16-year-olds but most simply received a fine of less than £500.

The figures emerged following parliamentary questions by the Liberal Democrats and showed that only one person was given a community sentence for the crime.

The ban on selling knives was extended to under-18s last year but those figures are currently unavailable.

The Lib Dems described the fines handed out as "pitiful" adding that the penalties for selling children knives should be tougher.

Knife crime has become a massive issue in recent weeks with 17 teenagers dying from stab wounds in London so far this year.
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