VIGILANT trading standards officers have seized thousands of black market film, music and games discs meant for the Christmas market.

The haul of 3,327 movies on DVD and VCR discs, 1,718 audio discs, 1,082 games discs, 118 programme discs and 46 boxes of fake designer perfumes was seized in raids on two homes in Guisborough and Redcar.

As well as the discs, Redcar and Cleveland Council Trading Standards officers seized three computers from each house, dedicated DVD writers and six printers.

Jeff Bell, the council's chief trading standards officer, said: "A conservative estimate of the high street value of the genuine articles would be in excess of £70,000.

"Now we are investigating the possibility of prosecution in both cases and, if successful, we will be asking the courts for forfeiture of the goods and they will be destroyed.

He said: "Much of this black market merchandise has been produced for the Christmas market and mirrors the products on sale in shops.

"These people are selfishly lining their pockets at the expense of local jobs in retail shops and in the cinemas."

Mr Bell said the haul would have had an impact on the production of and trade in counterfeit products in the area - and others working in the same illegal industry could expect a knock on the door.

More people are reporting the counterfeit cowboys, he revealed.

"I think people are getting to know what we are doing and that is where we are getting the intelligence. People object to others making a killing out of something illegal," said Mr Bell.

"The system is being defrauded and every tax and rate payer is having to pay a subsidy to make up the deficit.

"Don't be fooled into thinking it's a harmless, victimless crime."