POLICE and trading standards officers recovered thousands of pounds-worth of fake designer label sportswear in a raid on a Blackburn firm early today.

The counterfeit Reebok jackets and sweatshirts were found at Adams Embroidery Services, Rosewood Park, St James Road.

Tradings standards officers, accompanied by police, turned up at the company just after midnight to find staff working in the building.

Officers recovered garments before dismantling the machinery suspected of being used in the counterfeiting operation.

Chris Allen, trading standards area manager for East Lancashire, said: "We cannot put a figure on how much the garments are worth, but there was a very large quantity. This type of operation is becoming increasingly common.

"Companies are bringing in unbranded sweatshirts and clothing and using computer-controlled embroidery machines to stick on the offending trademarks.

"East Lancashire, and especially Blackburn, is renowned for the counterfeiting of jeans and this type of operation is similar."

The imitation garments, which would cost almost £100 for the real thing, are usually sold for about £10 to unscrupulous wholesalers, including local markets.

Mr Allen said fake goods often found their way into High Street shops.

Several prosecutions had taken place recently as trading standards officers attempted to crack down on the counterfeiting scam.

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