BOLLYWOOD-style DVDs are being imported into the country without being checked for violence and sex, according to trading standards chiefs in Blackburn and Darwen.

Officers have seized thousands of DVDs and videos in raids during the last two months and now parents are being warned to be careful what films they rent for their children. The call has been backed by council chiefs and the leader of a local ethnic minorities organisation.

The DVDs came to light when a general shop was raided as part of a wider crackdown on illegal videos. A total of 3,000 copied videos were discovered at video rental stores, as well as 20 video recorders set up for copying tapes.

The films seized, which officers fear may include graphic scenes of violence, are believed to have been brought into the country from India and many have never been checked by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Chris Allen said officers were now looking at prosecuting shop and video rental store owners following the raids around Blackburn and Darwen.

He said: "We are concerned that they do not bear the marks which parents rely on to protect their children."

Those found guilty of distributing the films which have not been checked by the BBFC face fines of up to £5,000 per video.

Many of the films have now been passed to the BBFC for them to find out if they have been approved for sale or rent in Britain.

Coun Maureen Bateson said her department was taking "a proactive approach" to dealing with the problem. She said: "We are working with lots of other agencies such as customs and the police."

Ibrahim Master, chairman of the Ethnic Minorities Development Association, said some Bollywood films included scenes which would not be suitable for children.

A spokeswoman for the BBFC said illegal DVDs were becoming an increasing problem.