ALMOST £500,000 in suspected counterfeit designer clothes have been seized in a raid on a Blackburn factory.

Trading Standards officers backed by police entered first floor textile production premises in Victoria Street, Blackburn, last night.

Clothing bearing the labels Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani, Levi's and Caterpillar were loaded into two seven and a half ton vans to be taken away for examination.

Partially complete clothing and components were also taken.

Today Lancashire's chief trading standard's officer Jim Potts said companies owning copyright of the various labels had confirmed that the premises were not authorised to produce their clothing.

He added: "When we arrived there appeared to be some people on the premises but they had left by the time we gained access.

"We hope to speak to several people in connection with alleged offences under the Trademarks Act, Copyrights Act and Trade Description Act."

Millions of pounds worth of fake designer clothes have been confiscated by trading standards officers in the Blackburn area this year alone.

Mr Potts added: "The area is a hot-bed for activity among the significant few who are willing to produce counterfeit designer gear in return for a fast buck."

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