TRADING Standards officers have seized a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes from three shops in the borough.

And tests on the products have revealed that the fake cigarettes, as well as containing cheap tobacco, had traces of rats urine and droppings.

The seizure from unidentified shops in Holcombe Brook, Walmersley and Prestwich, followed complaints from smokers who said the cigarettes tasted unlike their usual brand.

Now, smokers are being urged to contact Bury Council's Trading Standards department if they buy the counterfeit cigarettes which it is believed are manufactured in China and brought into Britain as part of a multi-million pound smuggling operation.

Peter Jagger, head of Bury's Trading Standards, said: "The worrying thing is that these cigarettes are not being sourced just by people calling at the shop with a bag or from the back of a van. The packets are copies of well known brands and the packaging is a very close match to the real thing.

"Retailers are strongly advised not to buy fakes. The profits may seem tempting but consumers have felt ill after smoking them. They may contain more than tar and nicotine than the real thing, and far higher levels of toxic arsenic cadmium and lead.

"Traces of rat urine and rat droppings have also been discovered in tests on the counterfeit cigarettes."

Around 500 packs of the fake cigarettes, mainly Superkings but also including Lambert and Butler, have been recovered from shops in the borough.

"Anyone willing to take a risk should be aware that the penalty for selling counterfeit goods carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence," said Mr Jagger.

"Any retailer or consumer who has concerns that they may have obtained illegal cigarettes should contact our office and we will be able to check with the tobacco companies as to the legality of the goods."

Bury's Trading Standards can be contacted on 0161 253 5566.

l Nine people were arrested last week in an operation targeting the sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the region.

HM Revenue and Customs, police and Trading Standards, seized 40,000 cigarettes, 23kgs of hand rolling tobacco, as well as counterfeit DVDs, CDs, and clothing from markets in the Manchester area.