Counterfeit cigarettes have been found in stores across the borough prompting a warning to traders and smokers to be on the lookout for the fakes.

The cigarettes can sometimes be identified by spelling mistakes on the packets and poor-quality printing, but others can only be recognised by unauthorised batch codes.

The taste of the cigarettes, which have mostly been 20 packs of Benson & Hedges, is very different and people have complained of headaches and sore throats after smoking them. Traders have been warned if they could face prosecution if they receive cigarettes from casual callers to their shops or other dubious sources.

Spokesman for public protection Councillor Colin Hall said: "Apart from the obvious health hazards of cigarettes, these counterfeit products are an unknown quantity. Any trader who buys and sells them is putting the safety of consumers at risk.

"The council takes a serious view of such action and we will do all we can to identify the source and deal with it appropriately."

Manufacturing the cigar-ettes can result in unlimited fines and up to 10 years in jail.

Anyone who has purchased fake cigarettes or has information leading to the source of the supply should call trading standards on 020 8770 5528.

April 30, 2003 10:00