A BARGAIN electrical shop is being investigated by trading standards officers after customer complaints, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Customers at the discount store, in Northgate, Darlington, have voiced concerns after not being given what they believed they were paying for.

The store, which opened on Monday and does not have a name, says it offers bargains, including mobile phones for under £20, men's shavers for £3, and a package of a games console, camcorder and camera for £60.

But customers, who had to pay £5 to qualify to buy items in the sale, have described it as a con.

Lee Kearton returned to the shop and asked for a refund of the £75 he spent. The money was returned to him.

He said: "I thought I had bought the games console, camcorder and camera, but was only given the camera.

"I asked where the rest was and was told I would get it at the end of the sale.

"But there were only the bouncers around at the end. People got things in boxes that they were told to open when they got home, so it would be a nice surprise, but what I got was a load of rubbish.

"The camera was worth about £5 at the most. It was a complete rip-off, and I feel totally deceived."

Another couple, who asked not to be named, spent £90 and said that instead of getting their promised electrical goods, they were left with five "tacky" watches, which supposedly retailed at up to £129.99 each.

They said: "You were given your stuff in a black bag, which you were told not to open until you left.

"It was a very aggressive atmosphere, but jokey at the same time.

"A lot of people will just feel really stupid now, because it really was too good to be true. People were running to the bank to get money to take part."

Darlington Trading Standards manager Nigel Green said the shop was being investigated after two complaints were passed on from police.

He said: "We would warn people to be careful, as what they buy may not be the bargain they would think."

No one was available at the store for comment yesterday.

Darlington Trading Standards can be contacted on (01325) 388799.