Trading standards officers seized around 750 counterfeit items from a trader at Port-land Market.

Officers carried out a spotcheck and found a stall selling fake copies of branded clothing, sportswear, handbags, perfume and other goods, including electrical hair straighteners.

The seller had initially abandoned his stall and a locked van packed with counterfeit goods. On his return, he was arrested by Dorset Police and interviewed by trading standards officers.

Officers believe the same man was trading at a market in Charmouth recently and, once investigations are complete, further formal enforcement action will be considered.

It is estimated that the total stock of counterfeit goods detained would have sold for about £8,000.

Famous trademarks being misused on the fakes included goods branded as Nike, Giorgio Armani, Lacoste, Adidas, Hugo Boss, Tiffany and GHD.

Officers were particularly concerned about the safety of the counterfeit electrical hair straighteners.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: “The council, through the work of its Trading Standards Service, has a duty to enforce the Trade Marks Act 1994.

“Under this act a criminal offence can be committed if any person sells, exposes for sale, or even possesses for sale any counterfeit goods.”

With Olympic sailing events in Dorset next year Trading Standards say there will be increased attention on the sale of illegal copies of branded merchandise.

Additional specific legislation brings with it further controls on the misuse of trade marks associated with the Olympics.

None of the goods seized on this occasion involved misuse of Olympic-related trademarks.

Councillor David J Fox, champion for Trading Standards at Dorset County Council, said: “It’s reassuring to know that Trading Standards are able to take effective action to protect the public from traders intent on practising ‘rip-off’ tactics.”

Who to call with complaints

To make a complaint about goods purchased or about a trader believed to be selling counterfeit goods consumers can call Consumer Direct 08454 040506.

Consumers who are concerned about the safety of any GHD brand of electrical hair straighteners they have purchased at the market should also use the Consumer Direct number.

Consumer Direct is the first point of contact for consumer advice and complaints requiring investigation are passed to the Trading Standards Service for action locally.

For further information of how to check if GHD hair straighteners are fake visit their website bewareoffakes.ghdhair.com More general background on counterfeit goods and the impact of them can be found on the Anti-Counterfeiting Group’s website a-cg.org/guest/index.php More information on Dorset County Council’s Trading Standards Service is available online at dorsetforyou.com/tradingstandards