PIRATE CDs of current hit movies and CD-copying equipment have been seized in a raid that netted £10,000 of counterfeit goods.

The raid, on a house in north Worcestershire followed months of work by Worcestershire County Council's Trading Standards service.

Pirate video CDs seized included titles only just released in cinemas, including the new Planet of the Apes hit and the acclaimed musical Moulin Rouge.

"In Worcestershire we've been very active in anti-counterfeiting work, and there has been a recent resurgence in the sale of counterfeit goods," said Steve Birch, Trading Standards' operations.

Mr Birch said the hot-spots for counterfeit goods were car boot sales across the county.

"We've made a number of inspections of car boot sales and seized goods, and we followed up local information that enabled us to make a visit to one house where we seized copying machinery and recent films," he said.

The material being copied was imported from other parts of the world, possibly through the internet.

Mr Birch said the internet was making it easier for unscrupulous people to gain access to certain material, while the costs associated with copying the material were becoming less.

"However, the consequences of being caught are severe," he warned, adding that culprits could face heavy fines and imprisonment.

In addition to audio and video CDs, computer game CDs were also seized in a joint operation with West Mercia Police.

"There has also been a spate of fake mobile phone covers at car boot sales in the county," said Mr Birch.

"They have all sorts of logos, such as Gucci and DKNY on them, which is in breach of the trademark protection laws."

Anyone with information on counterfeit goods should call Worcester police on 01905 723888 or Trading Standards on 01905 763763.