THE scale of contraband cigarettes and tobacco available on the streets of East Lancashire has been revealed following a series of raids by trading standards officers.

In all 1,200 packets were discovered during visits to 35 shops in Rossendale, Burnley, Nelson and Colne.

The raids came as new research also showed Blackburn was the 12th worst area in the country for illegal cigarettes.

The data also showed that 22 per cent of all packs in the North West were bootlegged, smuggled or counterfeit.

We all know that smoking legitimate products can be very bad for our health.

The habit is linked to coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic lung diseases and several cancers, to name just a few.

But, believe it or not, smoking fake cigarettes can be even worse for you.

Some of the millions seized last year contained high levels of substances like lead, cadmium and arsenic, all of which can be poisonous.

If that does not give you pause for thought - others had dead flies, human excrement and mould in them.

Surely saving a few quid is not worth putting your health at risk. Better still why not give up the habit altogether and save a lot more money.