Gold rings worth £22,000 have been seized by Border Force officers at the Eastern Docks.

They were confiscated on Saturday when officials stopped and searched a Romanian-registered lorry and its load of electrodes.

The rings weigh 2.5 kilos and carry a variety of suspected counterfeit designer logos including Mercedes, Dolce & Gabanna and Armani.

An investigation is being carried out by the National Crime Agency.

A 22-year-old man from Romania has been bailed until September while inquiries continue.

Paul Morgan, director of Border Force south east and Europe said: “This is an unusual and significant detection and shows that Border Force officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Counterfeit goods leave customers out of pocket with inferior and possibly dangerous products.

“The international trade in their sale is also linked to serious and organised crime and undercuts honest traders, damaging our economy.”