COUNTERFEIT goods worth more than £10,000 have been seized at an Oxford car boot sale - the largest haul of its type ever made in the county.

The operation, at the Kassam Stadium today, was carried out by police and Oxfordshire County Council's Rogue Traders Unit.

The team targeted four stalls, seizing fake designer clothing, sports shoes, football shirts and jewellery.

It comes as police and council staff step up their campaign against the trade in counterfeit products in the run-up to Christmas.

They say suspected rogue traders are being monitored, and warn that more raids could be made on stallholders in coming weeks.

Items seized included 50 football kits (£15 each); 300 fake items of designer clothing and footwear - including counterfeit Armani, Polo and Nike products (up to £30 each); and 100 items of Playboy-brand jewellery.

Eight stall holders have been reported and are being investigated.

PC Alex Shepherd, neighbouhood specialist officer for Blackbird Leys, said: "This was a joint operation with trading standards, acting on intelligence.

"There was everything from Manchester United shirts to Nike trainers. They are very authentic looking, so it would be hard to tell the difference - but you would soon know they are fake once you got them home. In the run-up to Christmas, people are being conned. We want to protect them.

"This was a very good result and we received a lot of positive feedback from people who were pleased to see us dealing with fakers."

Martin Woodley of the Rogue Traders Unit, part of Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards department, said: "We have done a few of these seizures before, but mainly on DVDs. This is the biggest haul of clothing."

He said several other traders were being monitored - some of whom were coming to Oxford from London and Birmingham.

He added: "Trading standards officers will be out at the car boot sale every week in the run-up to Christmas. We want people to be responsible and to protect the livelihood of responsible stallholders by letting those who trade counterfeit goods know they can be caught."

"Trademark holders put a lot of money into the production of their goods. But these counterfeiters are making a lot of money from someone else's inventions. The goods are also of inferior quality. People are spending £15 on stuff which can be bought for £5."

Trading standards is urging anyone who suspects counterfeit clothing is being sold to call them on 0845 0510845.