UK retail company Next has been fined £5,000 sterling (€8,153) for displaying misleading prices in three of its Northern Ireland stores in last year's summer sale.

Next stores located in Ballymena, Bangor and Lisburn had sales tickets printed with the words "half price or less" to sell clothes that were not reduced by at least 50 per cent of their previous selling price.

Next pleaded guilty to 10 specimen charges under the Consumer Protection Order (Northern Ireland) 1987 for offences committed at three Next stores.