Shoppers are being urged to be extra vigilant as they seek Christmas bargains - or face the possibility of heartache on the big day.

Fake and shoddy goods at what appear to be knock-down prices are being hawked by unscrupulous traders across the region.

But would-be buyers are being put on the alert in an effort to stop the con-men in their tracks and tackle piracy which is believed to cost legitimate industry some £8.5 billion a year.

Videos, DVDs, CDs, computer software and games are at the top of the piracy list and invariably are of appalling quality.

The latest Harry Potter film and the James Bond adventure Die Another Day have already been pirated while still on cinema screens all over the region.

Even the latest Lord of the Rings epic, The Two Towers, is illegally available - despite the fact the film itself is not released until today.

Dodgy merchandise, highly-poisonous whisky and even dangerous batteries are also on the long list of fakes on the streets this year.

Designer-name clothes and perfumes have also been targeted, but while they may look at first glance to be convincing, the quality if poor.

North Yorkshire trading standards officer Richard Flinton said yesterday: "People should be very wary when they see this sort of thing being sold in unusual places, like street corners or Sunday markets. "Some people may think pirated goods are a bargain but that is just not the case. If bought as presents the recipients are going to have a disappointing Christmas."

He added: "If anybody comes across anyone selling what are clearly fake goods they should get in touch with the local trading standards department as soon as possible."

New laws have been introduced which have raised the penalty for copyright crime and the enforcement agencies have been given new powers to fight the counterfeiters.

But Consumer Affairs Minister Melanie Johnson insisted: "The message to consumers tempted by apparent bargains is crucial too - if you buy fakes you support only criminals and threaten legitimate industry and jobs."

The DTI's five tips on how to avoid being duped by fake goods are: Always buy your products from a reputable retailer; Check the label and packaging for misspellings or poor quality; Ask the vendor what guarantees or after sales service they provide; Beware of unbelievable bargains - if something seems too good to be true it probably is; Remember, any product can be a fake, so be on your guard.