LIBRARIES in East Lancashire have been stocking and renting out fake Bollywood DVDs videos for up to four years, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal.

The counterfeit films found their way onto the shelves at libraries in Blackburn and Nelson after a mix-up between the supplier of the movies and library staff.

And today council bosses admitted the films had been available for hire for several years before the mistake was spotted following a warning from the British Board for Film Classification to look out for illegal movies.

Library staff have now been ordered to tighten up checks on where stock comes from before it is hired out to the public.

The admissions follow a court case of Nelson shopkeeper Mohammed Asghar who was given a conditional discharge at Burnley Crown Court this week after admitting renting out counterfeit Bollywood videos.

Mr Asghar, 38, of Every Street, admitted three cases of unauthorised use of a trademark after a case was brought against him by Lancashire County Council.

His Every Street shop was raided by officials in May 2004 when they found the illegal films which were confiscated.

Mr Asghar planned to use the fact that libraries had also stocked the fake films as part of his defence.

And Blackburn with Darwen Council employed a barrister - Martin Hackett - to represent two librarians in the case, who were appearing as witnesses to explain to the jury how the films appeared for hire.

The witnesses were not needed after Mr Asghar pleaded guilty and a trial was averted but Mr Hackett was employed to make sure the library staff did not incriminate themselves in any wrong doing.

Blackburn with Darwen council today refused to answer any questions about the videos, how long they had been on the shelves or where they came from.

Asked for information about the fake films by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph a spokesman said they could not comment further as legal proceedings may be under way and that specific queries would have to be filed under a Freedom of Information request.

However a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Nelson Library bought a number of videos to use as rental stock from one of their regular suppliers in 2001.

"The items were bought in good faith, but the library was told in 2005 that a few of the videos were not legally available in this country.

"The library immediately reviewed all its stock and removed the illegal items.

"The library instructed the supplier that it would not accept any video which hasn't been passed by the BBFC and has introduced measures to ensure that all its video stock complies with legal restrictions."

Neither Blackburn with Darwen Council nor Lancashire County Council is being prosecuted for the mistakes .

But Coun Kate Hollern, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, today said: "We need to make sure it won't happen again. I will be meeting with the director of leisure services and the executive member for culture leisure and sport to discuss this.

"As a former executive member for culture leisure and sport, I know how well regarded our libraries are and we need to make sure nothing happens like this again."