A SHOP found to be selling potentially lethal legal highs in York has taken them off the shelves.

The synthetic drugs labelled "not for human consumption" could be found in the city centre store until the end of last week, but the premises now sells clothing.

The Press revealed in January how the head shop chain had a range of packaged pills and incense in eye-catching designs in glass cabinets, despite being unaware of how dangerous they were to anyone taking them.

A member of staff in the York shop told The Press it is planning to re-brand but will continue to sell e-cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia, along with skateboarding clothing.

She said: "We are going to be re-opening selling partly what we sold before, but part of it is clothing.

"It's still the same owners but we are re-branding."

Although legal highs are still easily available online, a Government bill proposing to make the sale of them illegal is set to go through Parliament this year.

Those who campaigned to have legal highs taken off the streets today spoke of their delight at the shop's closure.

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, said: "Whilst the news is to be welcomed, we must remain vigilant to prevent this dangerous trade from occurring in York.

"I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that a comprehensive ban is brought into force as quickly as possible, stamping out the sale of legal highs for good."