Guns seized at Black Country stall

Replica guns were seized from a Black Country stall in a sting to stamp out unscrupulous traders.

The 64 handgun-style pellet guns, selling for £1, were taken off a stall at Walsall's busy Bescot Market yesterday.

The operation was mounted after investigators were told of fake and faulty goods being sold at the event, which attracts 20,000 visitors weekly.

In a recent case, a woman severely burnt her hand on defective hair straighteners bought there.

Trading standards and police descended on the market at Banks's Stadium looking for those selling counterfeit goods such as sportswear, cosmetics and potentially dangerous electrical equipment.

The man selling the fake guns was questioned by officers and could now face charges.

There were also reports of people selling fake DVDs on a car park next to the market but by the time officers reached the spot they had vanished.

Phil Ellis, trading standards enforcement officer from Walsall Council, said: "Under the Trade Marks Act, the Trade Descriptions Act and the Copyright Acts it's illegal to sell counterfeit goods.

"Apart from that it's a safety point of view. Some people are buying trainers with the bubbles in the heels."

"They are supposed to be pumped up to almost the pressure of a car tyre." continued the officer.

"When we pick them up sometimes you can squeeze them with your little finger because they are not properly constructed and they have been known to cause spinal injuries."

Mr Ellis added: "We have had a problem in the past with hair straighteners which were proved to be counterfeit.

"A girl was injured by the wire that comes out of the back of the handle. It was still connected to the power and she couldn't let go.

"It had to be pulled off by a friend and it resulted in quite bad burns on her hand," added the officer.

In previous operations the team has seized weapons, clothing and trainers and even make-up before unassuming members of the public had a chance to the counterfeit products.