DANGEROUS illicit whisky and vodka containing diluted methylated spirits could be on the shelves of East Lancashire's stores.

And today, trading standards chiefs were scouring the area for the booze which could lead to blindness.

The one-litre whisky bottles, priced at £7 and labelled Royal Game Finest Blended Scotch Whisky, have been discovered on sale in West Yorkshire, but officers fear the bottles could easily have gone on sale over the Lancashire border.

The counterfeit bottles have Vintner's International, Winerite Ltd, Leeds, printed on the labels and are missing the postcode of LS12 6HJ. They have a plain gold screwtop where the genuine bottles have the words Scotch Whisky printed three times.

The Russian vodka has a blue and white label with a sickle and hammer motif on the top left of the bottle with a label saying it was distilled in the USSR for Sojuzplodo Import, Moscow.

The department's David Roderick said: "So far we have not found any of these bottles in our area, but given our close proximity to Yorkshire, we have to be on our guard. "Officers will be visiting all potential outlets and would appreciate the assistance of traders and members of the public."

Kevin Randall, of trading standards, added: "We understand that thousands of these bottles have been produced. We are warning shops and retailers that if they are approached by people selling them, we want the details of who is making the offer, the vehicle they are using and any information they can give."

County Coun Bob Clark, Chairman of the Fire Service and Public Protection Committee, said: "Yet again we have an example of a reputable company's trademark being used for illicit commercial gain, in this case with potentially serious consequences."

People are asked to telephone 01772 263771.

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