PACKETS of "fake" washing powder which have caused a spate of severe allergic reactions have been sold in Farnworth.

Now shoppers who bought the powder have been warned to seek medical help if they suffer any kind of skin rash or other allergic reaction.

Trading Standards officers say people should throw the powder away.

A supplier sold the washing powder to two shops in Farnworth.

The fake packets, falsely carrying the name Bold, in both "Aqua" and "Hawaii Fresh" 1kg packages, could be particularly harmful to children.

The source of the counterfeit powder has been traced to a wholesaler in Nottingham which had been duped into taking supplies, believed to have come from abroad. After a string of complaints from people who suffered rashes and irritation, the warehouse alerted Trading Standards officials.

They found that the packets had been sold to shops across the country, including two in the Farnworth area.

Trading Standards officers are due to visit the stores to make sure that the powder is no longer available, but fear that it could still be in homes across the town and could cause serious skin problems for anyone who uses it.

Darrell Wilson, principal officer at Bolton Trading Standards, said the packages could be easily identified because bungling fraudsters misspelled the town Weybridge on packaging to read "Waybridge" underneath the freephone helpline on the side of the boxes.

The packaging is also of poor quality and the printing on boxes blurred.

"The advice we have been given on handling this powder is to use gloves and masks which tells us that it's quite harmful stuff," said Mr Wilson.

"Our advice to anyone who thinks they may have some is to throw it away and seek medical help if it irritates their skin."

Powder seized in Nottingham is due to be tested to identify its harmful ingredients.

A spokesman for Procter and Gamble, which makes the real Bold washing powder, said: "We are aware of some counterfeit Bold product. We are investigating and pursuing the matter."