Shoppers in Oxfordshire are being warned to be on the look-out for counterfeit and illegal goods in the run-up to Christmas, writes Jonathan Gunning.

Trading Standards officers across the region are joining a national campaign to target rogue traders selling dangerous, forged or stolen stock.

A grotty grotto has been set up in London, manned by a seedy Santa and stocked with shoddy goods already seized from dodgy traders.

In Oxfordshire, officers are focusing on counterfeit designer or brand goods such as sportswear, watches, and perfumes, as well as toys, all of which tend to be found at markets and car boot sales.

Tom Edwards, assistant head of operations for Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said: "The run-up to Christmas is the prime trading time of the year ideal for those who want to make a quick buck by selling goods of questionable quality and safety.

"Designer label goods are usually sold only in particular shops and therefore you won't tend to find them at markets or boot sales."

John Nash, chairman of the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce said: "It is an age-old problem. At Christmas, people sell all sorts of things on the streets, including toys, which are often not built to the required standards and could even be dangerous.

"If people are not buying through a recognised retailer, they should be very careful."

The co-ordinator of Oxford's Gloucester Green market, Paul Coles, said: "We don't tolerate anybody selling counterfeit goods. In my three years at the market we've only had one case of somebody selling imitation products."

The warnings follow a number of seizures of forged goods by trading standards officers in the region.

Last Christmas counterfeit ski hats, with brands such as Nike and Adidas, were seized from a trader on the pavement in Queen Street, Oxford.

The internet is increasingly being used to trade in forged merchandise. In May, a Kidlington man was fined 5,000 for selling forged Sony Playstation computer games from a website.