THOUSANDS of pounds worth of fake designer tracksuits have been seized after police stopped a car on the A19 near Crathorne.

Police, along with trading standards officials, stopped the vehicle at about 2.20pm on Wednesday, seizing tracksuits, trainers and T-shirts.

Trading standards officials from Stockton Borough Council will now carry out more inquiries and speak to a male driver and passenger from the Stockton area.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council's cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said: “Clearly, dealing in counterfeit goods is against the law and our Trading Standards team work hard in partnership with Cleveland Police to stop the potential sale of anything that is not the genuine article.

“Counterfeit goods rip off the public and damage the reputation of legitimate organisations."

Detective Constable Tony Snow, from Cleveland Police, said: “This is another good example of partnership working with agencies in Cleveland. Once a search of the vehicle had been conducted and the suspected counterfeit clothing had been recovered, the investigation was passed over to our colleagues from Trading Standards who will now carry out further inquiries.”