TRADING standards officers in Preston are putting their weight behind a Crimestoppers campaign in the North West to crack down on counterfeiters.

Last year, product counterfeiting cost the regional economy around £750m per year and more than 1,000 jobs. It also helped to fund further crime in the area.

The campaign has been initiated by Crimestoppers and the Sports Industry Federation and focuses on the trade of counterfeit sportswear.

A range of events have been organised throughout the county in a bid to drive home the message that fake goods encourage crime, unemployment and lost business opportunities.

It coincides with Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards' earlier campaign in May when officers seized counterfeit Pokemon clothes, cards and computer games on sale in the Preston area. The seaside town of Blackpool is another black spot, where rogue traders have pedalled second-rate wares, football shirts, CDs, computer games and pirate videos.

Later next month, Blackpool shoppers will be able to try out their detective skills when the department brings its 'spot-the-fake' roadshow to the town.

Participants will be able to examine all sorts of fake and genuine goods with the chance of winning prizes if they spot the fake product.

It is hoped that the event will come to Preston before the end of this year.

Jim Potts, Lancashire County Council's chief Trading Standards officer, said: "We want to promote fair trading and honest enterprises. Counterfeiting is a serious problem being taken seriously by enforcement agencies and anybody found counterfeiting can expect to be prosecuted and have their machinery confiscated."

Anyone with any information about people making or selling fake goods can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.