A weekly Cleethorpes car boot sale is the latest recruit to North East Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards team’s Real Deal scheme.

The scheme was launched three years ago in a bid to stamp out the illegal trade in counterfeit goods and to ensure businesses are fully compliant with the relevant laws.

Paul Croft, organiser of Parks Car Boot sale, which takes place on Wednesday mornings behind Pennells garden centre, Humberston Road, Cleethorpes, is the latest to sign up.

Other markets and car boot sales in the borough that have committed to the scheme include Cleethorpes Street Market, Grimsby Top Town Market, Grimsby Farmer’s Market, Grimsby Christmas Market and Oaklands car boot sale. All of the premises and markets signed up to the Real Deal scheme have been given signs to display informing shoppers about fake goods.

Fake goods are often cheap, low quality imitations of genuine products and those who profit from them ultimately damage the business of popular brands and legitimate traders.

Trading in counterfeit goods risks a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or an unlimited fine.
Information about fake goods on sale in North East Lincolnshire should be reported to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.

Neil Clark, Community Protection Manager responsible for Trading Standards at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“Officers from the Trading Standards team carry out regular inspections of local car boot sales and markets and also investigate online sales. They work with all kinds of businesses helping to promote good practice, raise standards and keep abreast of the latest legislation. Inspections last year unearthed fake goods with a street value of about £1,200 – the stall owners were given advice on the offences of selling counterfeit goods and the items were surrendered to the officers. It’s the cooperation of other businesses and traders that make the job we do that much easier, so do contact us to find out how we can help.”

For more details on the national scheme, visit www.realdealmarkets.co.uk.