Counterfeit goods worth £500k seized at horse fair

Trading Standards officers have seized counterfeit goods worth more than £500,000 from the market fields at this year’s Appleby Horse Fair.

The items include 2,500 pairs of sunglasses and nearly 200 bottles of perfume with counterfeit Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior trademarks.

Supt Dan St Quintin said this year's fair had seen "a new standard set for proactive enforcement".

Trading Standards manager Catherine Hornby urged people to avoid buying counterfeit items.

"Consumers are often not aware of the health risks involved in using counterfeit items," she said.

"At best you will waste your money on a sub-standard product, at worst you may purchase something that is harmful. Counterfeit items are unregulated, and the counterfeiters have no regard for your health and safety."

The council is asking anyone with information about counterfeit products to contact Trading Standards.

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