TRADING standards officers are hoping their ‘twelve days of Christmas’ will be a big hit with festive gift hunters.

The advice from Durham County Council’s trading standards team includes top tips on avoiding common pitfalls when buying last-minute gifts online or on the high street.

The ‘ten labels leaping’ warning is to make sure any branded designer clothes are not counterfeit, while the ‘five winning gold rings’ advice warns against being conned by prize draws or lotteries.

Instead of ‘a partridge in a pear tree’ the officers warn against buying tickets for ‘a panto that doesn’t exist’.

Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “This is a traditional time of year for busy high streets and floods of online orders, but it is not always the season of goodwill for shoppers as they could get tangled up in scams and rip-offs.

“These 12 shopping tips of Christmas are a timely reminder of how to have a happy time and not be caught out.”

For more information, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0845-404-0506 or visit durham.gov.uk