Police have seized 25,000 counterfeit CDs, DVDs and pornographic items – with an estimated street value of £500,000 – from a car boot sale in Cannock.

The haul by Watling police was made during checks as part of a multi-agency operation at the car boot sale on Cocksparrow Lane, Huntington, on Sunday morning and is one of the biggest ever in the area.

Sergeant Phil Lloyd, pictured with the seized haul the haul, said: “Store holders ran from officers when approached. Whilst on this occasion no arrests were made I was however heartened by the numerous comments from members of the public who were supportive of our actions.

“What does disappoint me though is that families had to walk past stalls selling this type of material, some of which had very offensive covers on display.”

He added: “As long as people buy this type of goods the sellers will keep coming back. The public must realise there is no quality to these goods and they are basically helping to support crime and drug users.

“It’s a total false economy and we will continue to target sellers of these illegal goods.”

The seizure also included interactive video games and Xbox games. All the goods involved will now be passed on to Trading Standards.

The organisations involved in the multi-agency operation include Trading Standards, Customs and Excise and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).

Last weekend £15,000 of stolen toys were seized from the same sale.

Police attended the event in Cocksparrow Lane on Sunday after receiving information from a member of the public.

As a result officers recovered two vans full of stolen property and arrested two men from Walsall.

Anyone with any information about the store holders is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 08453 302010 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

By Kate Hughes