ROGUE traders who tricked shoppers into handing over sums of money for worthless plastic goods have been evicted from a Bolton town centre store.

Baliffs discovered thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused to the Oxford Street shop unit -- which had been used to stage a series of auctions -- when they threw out the 11 strong gang.

Trading standards officers said they had been inundated with complaints since the so-called Bargain Centre appeared a week ago.

Hundreds of shoppers queued up for the chance to buy PlayStation 2s, Nintendo Gameboys and Sony Camcorders which had been advertised for around £50 each.

Today, the former Halifax Building Society office was a scene of destruction. Timber fittings and a burglar alarm had been stripped from the walls and thousands of leaflets boasting of "incredible" bargains were scattered across the floor.

Also left behind was a packaged pink plastic radio, which could be picked up for no more than £1 at any bargain store.

Darrell Wilson, principal trading standards officer, said he believed many shoppers were too embarrassed at being a victim of the "fraudsters" to come forward.

He said: "Customers have been conned. I think there are probably a lot of people -- who we have not even heard from -- who have paid large amounts of money for worthless goods.

"People who run operations like this are very clever. They never stay anywhere for long before moving on."

Shopper Lisa Urmston thought she had bought a cheap PlayStation2 when she handed over £60, as previously reported in the Bolton Evening News.

Earlier she had watched as 10 shoppers had bought sealed boxes containing items such as a video camera and DVD player for just 1p.

She handed over £60 and was asked to choose from three boxes -- but all she got was a cheap watch. Miss Urmston, aged 20, of Bromley Cross Road, Bromley Cross, said: "I thought I was getting a bargain but obviously I wasn't -- and I was not alone."

District Judge Joanne Shaw at Bolton Crown Court issued an order of possession on behalf of agents for the shop's Leeds based owners Commercial Property Development Limited.

The tricksters, who are said to have Mancunian accents and were sleeping on the floor of the shop, produced a falsified lease to Trading Standards officers who called at the shop.

Bailiffs, who have since visited the Yorkshire premises, said the office is currently empty.

Cathy Savage, town centre manager, has warned owners of vacant shop units to be vigilant against rogue operations.

She said: "Shoppers are not likely to come back if they have been ripped off."

Mrs Savage urged anyone who has concerns over the legitimacy of a business in the town centre to call her on (01204) 523762.