TRADING Standards officers in Lancashire are warning shoppers about the problems of the "counterfeit Christmas".

Twenty officers were involved in a raid at a Sunday market near Southport where £10,000 worth of counterfeit goods, including CDs, clothing and computers, were seized.

There are expected to be more spot checks possibly in this area and at various other sales and markets in the build-up to the festive season.

County Coun Chris Cheetham, chairman of Lancashire's Finance and General Purposes Sub-committee, said: "Consumers should always be vigilant when shopping.

"What may seem like a bargain from the car boot sale may turn out to be a fake.

"There are no guarantees that the CDs will work and clothing is invariably of poor quality."

The Lancashire Trading Standards office has seized over £2m worth of counterfeit goods in the last two years.

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