CUSTOMS officers forced entry into a Blackburn lock-up unit as part of an operation to uncover illegally imported booze.

The team from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs swooped on a unit at Florence Mill Business Park in Whalley New Road.

The officers called in back-up from Blackburn police before forcing open up the metal shutters on the entrance to the unit and recovering goods.

A Blackburn police spokeswoman confirmed: "We were asked to attend by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) while they carried out a forced entry at a premises at Florence Mill which was suspected to contain untaxed alcohol."

Customs said for "confidentiality" reasons they were unable to give details of the company.

The company, which has not been named, is one of around 20 firms working from the business park.

The entrance of the unit is now taped off and a notice from HM Revenue & Customs states: "These goods have been detained by HM Customs & Excise. Please do not remove." The unit remained sealed yesterday. The only signs of activity were half a dozen scattered wooden pallets outside the unit's entrance, a dented can of lager and a strong smell of stale alcohol.

Traders today spoke of their shock at the developments at the site.

Ken Parkinson, who operates a property maintenance company from an adjacent unit, said prior to the raid "slabs of booze" had been loaded onto vans on a daily basis.

He said: "There would be a lorry with a Dutch number plate pulling up up to the door most days.

"Later on in the morning slabs of beer would leave in vans that would come to the site before driving off. It would be quiet again by the afternoon.

"Nobody knows who was running the unit. I just hope there is an investigation to ensure the alcohol has not illegally been sold on."

The units are leased from Britannic Business Parks.

A spokesman at its office in Botany Bay, Chorley, said he could not reveal the identity of the unit's occupants and was not prepared to comment.

A HMRC spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that officers attended premises in Blackburn on Friday last week however due to taxpayer confidentiality I cannot make any further comment at this time."