A mother has spoken of her anger after her eight-year-old son was sold a bottle opener with a knife attached.

Alison Lovett let Kyle go into Best One, in Luton Road, Chatham, to spend his pocket money.

But it was only when they were almost back at their Beacon Hill home that he pulled the opener - with knife attachment - out of his pocket.

"It was sharp and I was livid," said Ms Lovett.

Kyle had bought the bottle opener for £1.59 to open a J20 drink.

Ms Lovett, 39, said: "I was trying to teach my son to be independent by letting him go into the shop while I was waiting outside and look what happened.

"What if my son had been the sort of child to use that knife?

"There are kids who go in on their own and it could have caused a very serious injury.

"There is a lot of knife crime about, so it is just scary to see what children can buy - especially right opposite a junior school."

She added: "He was really upset and scared that he was going to get in trouble with the police over it, so I had to sit him down and explain it wasn't his fault."

A Kent Police spokesman said selling the bottle opener to under-18s is not illegal.

Officers visited the shop to give advice, but found the items had been taken off sale.

A Best One shop spokesman said: "The woman’s boys often come into the shop and we know them well. Their mum often sends them in to buy things."

He added: "The boy said his mum had asked for a tin opener and bought one.

"He then said it was the wrong one and needed a bottle opener, so bought that instead.

"It is not a knife, but we are sorry."

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