Trendy trainers and high end holdalls with designer labels destined to be sold by conmen at car boots and markets across Walsall have been recovered.

In just 12 months the colourful collection of handbags, shoes and sunglasses, all falsely claiming to be genuine brands, have been seized from criminals hoping to profit from the fake fashion goods.

But the items, that would be worth more than £3million if real, were today loaded into a lorry and driven out of the borough.

The Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo handbags, Christian Dior trainers and Paul & Shark shoes will be shipped abroad to be used by people in poor countries. While the Oakley, Police and Chanel sunglasses will become pencils.

Expert Trading Standards officers, based in the town centre building, work with West Midlands Police and HM Customs & Excise to crackdown on the sale of counterfeit goods in Walsall.

HM Customs & Excise spokeswoman Jennie Kendall said the goods were massed produced to look like well known brands.