Counterfeit goods including fake Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund football shirts found at the Port of Dover were among thousands of fake items seized by Border Force officers in the run-up to Christmas.

Border Force officials found a total of 379 such football shirts at the port, which were worth approximately £16,149.

Shoppers are being warned against buying fake goods as they hunt for bargains during the festive season.

Immigration minister Brandon Lewis said: "The international trade in counterfeits is linked to serious and organised crime and undercuts honest traders, damaging our economy.

"Customers are also left out of pocket with inferior and potentially dangerous goods.

"We are determined to crack down on this criminality and have Border Force officers working 24 hours a day at ports, airports and mail sorting centres to identify and seize counterfeits."

"We are determined to crack down on this criminality and have Border Force officers working 24 hours a day at ports, airports and mail sorting centres" - Brandon Lewis

Seized items are destroyed and the rights holders can then decide whether to privately prosecute the importers.

Border Force South director Sue Young added: "Counterfeiters will look to capitalise and cash in where there is a demand for a product.

"We urge consumers to be careful with their purchases. If the price appears too good to be true, either at a car boot sale, a market stall or online, it probably is."