MANUFACTURERS who make millions from fake designer goods could go unchecked under Blackburn with Darwen Council's unitary status plans, it was claimed today.

Local government union UNISON joined the fashion industry and national Anti-Counterfeiting Group to say proposals for eight people to police what is reputedly the country's 'counterfeiting capital' would be ineffective and leave them suffering from stress.

But today environmental health manager Mr Thani Nathan, who will head the new department, said the council had to operate within resources.

He added: "Officers would be able to call on support from other departments within the town hall. We would like to have more people but have to operate within budgets.

"Counterfeiting is a priority. We are confident that there will be enough officers to cope."

The countywide trading standards operation can currently call on up to 80 trained trading standards officers when mounting raids and tackling issues needing special expertise.

Their latest raid netted more than £500,000 worth of duplicate designer clothing from a production unit in Victoria Street, Blackburn. The operation was the latest in a string of seizures this year which have netted clothing valued at millions of pounds from secret production units where mass-produced fake labels and packaging were fitted to inferior goods.

Solicitor Paul Rawlinson, who represents labels like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, said: "Cutting back the number of people operating in the area really puts in jeopardy the assistance trading standards can render.

"There will be only a handful of people available to enforce hundreds of pieces of information under Blackburn's plans.

"Criminals will effectively operate unchecked."

Blackburn with Darwen Council denied suggestions that trading standards should be a countywide operation like the police and fire service in the early stages of the transition period.

But UNISON spokesman Julian Edwards, also a trading standards officer, said the council had invited comments from staff about the proposals which were yet to be finally approved.

He added: "Currently, when there is a major problem in Blackburn, we can call on the resources of the whole county.

"There will not be that flexibility with the unitary authority.

"We have expressed our concern and made some comments about staff and pressure placed on staff."

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