Fake shades raise concerns

Counterfeit sunglasses worth over £17,000 at retail value were recovered by Somerset County Council's trading standards department as part of a haul of fake goods worth around £200,000.

Trading standards officers intercepted the counterfeit items which included luxury brand sunglasses, handbags and clothing, after a local haulage company had become suspicious of a delivery it picked up from Exeter Airport which had been flown in from China. The consignment was on route to France where it was due to be split among market traders.

A spokesman for the council's trading standards department told Optician the counterfeit sunglasses included a number of designer brands such as Prada, Armani, Versace, Chanel and D&G.