A CAMPAIGN has been launched to close down a shop selling legal highs in Winchester.

The unnamed shop, in Stockbridge Road, which also sells ball-bearing guns, t-shirts, belts and incense, was met with friction when it first opened at the end of last month.

Now resident Elliot Reynolds has launched an online petition to have the shop shut down.

“There has been a [new] shop opening up near the train station in Winchester on Stockbridge Road.,” the website says.

“It sells legal highs, BB guns and drug paraphernalia. This is outrageous that this shop has been allowed to open and should be shut down immediately. When the teenagers start buying the BB guns and people will be hurt and the criminal damage rate will increase greatly.”

Mr Reynolds, who was contacted for further comment by the Chronicle, hopes to reach around 1,000 signatures – of which he has received 100 so far.

As previously reported, the shop owner, who has so far refused to be named, was forced to remove several products from sale while the Government carries out tests on five compounds of the controversial substances.

Central Government has imposed a 12-month ban on these products which has cost the owner around £2,000 in unsalable produce.