NEWSAGENTS in Bolton fear being driven to the wall by smugglers who are flooding the market with cheap cigarettes from abroad.

Dozens of corner shops and off-licences have been left on the brink of closure by the growing black market and warned today they could go under unless the Government acts quickly.

Mehboob Bawa, owner of Bennet's News in Bennet's Lane, Halliwell, said: "I can't take any more. If I lose any cigarette sales then I'll struggle to keep going."

A survey of 19,000 independent outlets by the Tobacco Alliance reveals more than one in four North-west retailers have considered closing as a result of losing around £1,000 trade a week to the bootleggers.

Members have called on the Government to slash taxes and remove the incentive for smugglers, who can bring in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco from Europe for a fraction of British prices which are approaching £5 for a pack of 20.

HM Customs and Excise say the market share of smuggled cigarettes in Britain is 18 per cent.

But John Forshaw, owner of the Welland Off-Licence in Wigan Road, Westhoughton, says around half of all cigarettes are bought abroad.

He said: "£1,000 per week is a very conservative estimate. I'm already having to close down the video rental part of my business because of counterfeit copies.

"It doesn't take much to rock the boat in this business. If it gets much worse, then there's no doubt that shops will close and I wouldn't rule myself out.

"What the Government needs to do quite quickly is look at harmonising taxes with the rest of Europe."

Mr Bawa added: "I rely on sales of cigarettes and newspapers because I'm only a small shop. If people can get cigarettes anywhere else for less money, they will."

Peter Field, of Sharples Stores, Sharples Avenue, Sharples, said: "I get offered contraband tobacco all the time, but I would never dream of stocking it. Unfortunately, that is the length some people are having to go to to make a profit."

Customs and Excise has set up a hot-line for shopkeepers to report bootleggers in confidence on 0800 595 000.