DANGEROUS knives were sold to children by more than a third of shops targeted in an undercover survey.

Forty per cent of the 22 shops in west and north Wiltshire visited by 14-year-old volunteers on behalf of Wiltshire Trading Standards' officers failed to keep to the law banning the sale of knives to under 16s.

The results have provoked feelings of disgust from a family whose lives were devastated by knife crime and concern from trading standards officers and a senior police chief.

In total, 19 out of 54 retailers visited across the county failed the test with volunteers able to buy kitchen knives, steak knives, craft knives and DIY knives. The largest sold was a butcher's knife with a seven inch blade.

The Wiltshire Times has obtained the names of all the shops in west and north Wiltshire that failed the test.

For one family living with the aftermath of an horrific knife crime, the shocking statistics have caused disbelief and anger.

Sarah Leyfield's father Roy Clarke, 70, and his wife Joan, 55, were murdered by their son, Michael, at their home in Berryfield Park, Melksham, in 2004.

The then 20-year-old, who was obsessed with knives and had a massive collection of bladed weapons at his home, is now serving life for the brutal killings in which he inflicted up to 30 stab and slash wounds.

Mrs Leyfield, who has since campaigned for stricter rules on the sale of knives, said: "It is disgusting that these shops have done this. I know children can look older than they are but they should check. They have to think why a child would need to buy a knife and they have to ask for ID.

"A child could buy a knife because they are being bullied, they could pull a knife on someone and not think of the consequences.

"They could really hurt themselves or someone else. I have lost my father and stepmother and don't want anyone else to suffer in the same way."

Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett of Wiltshire Police was the officer who led the investigation into the Clarke murders.

He said: "It is clearly very alarming to know that knives are being sold in this way and it is an offence to carry a knife in a public place. A child might think think they are carrying a knife for their own protection but the real danger is if they become frightened or otherwise incensed and in the heat of the moment pull out the knife and do something rash they will live to regret.

"If they are worried or they are being bullied there is always another way."

The shops that failed the test, carried out over half term, were Leekes and The Card Market in Melksham, The Factory Shop in Trowbridge, Cordon and Sons in Warminster, Robert Dyas and Wilkinson in Chippenham and Trotman and Son in Calne.

Two Sainsbury's stores, in Melksham and Chippenham, also sold knives to the youngsters. A spokesman for the supermarket said: ""We are therefore very disappointed that this has happened. We are investigating these specific incidents and have reminded our colleagues about the importance of checking the age of young customers purchasing knives."

Andrew Mathison, business unit manager at Leekes department store in Beanacre Road, Melksham, said: "If this happened then we are very concerned and disappointed and will obviously go through the training with the staff concerned."

Steve Clover, Wiltshire's chief trading standards officer, said: "We are shocked by these results."