Fake Robbie Clothes Sent to Underprivileged Kids

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Oct 2006

Thousands of pounds worth of fake Robbie Williams goods are to find a good home in impoverished parts of Eastern Europe, following a massive swoop by Milton Keynes Council Trading Standards officers.

Dozens of rogue traders were caught selling well over a thousand counterfeit t-shirts and sweatshirts, bearing the superstar's trademark, during his recent five-day gig at the National Bowl.

But they were thwarted by a team of Trading Standards enforcement officers, working with colleagues from Environmental Health, the Safer Communities Unit and the Police.

As well as weeding out more than 1,000 fake Robbie items, Trading Standards officers were able to speed up traffic flow by stopping hundreds of traders from selling the items, so they couldn't be a distraction and cause delay to the 65,000 people leaving the Bowl each day.

The Trading Standards team have been told by Robbie Williams' management team that all items seized will be donated to 'His Church', which is a registered charity that distributes to orphans and homeless people in Eastern Europe.

Ken Searle, Head of Trading Standards, said: "We are determined not to let Milton Keynes get a reputation as somewhere where sales of fake products will go unchallenged. Counterfeiting of clothing, DVDs or any other products undermines the investment of the legitimate manufacturer and threatens the livelihood of reputable retailers in the city.

"It's a crime that can carry a hefty fine or a jail sentence. The products are often of poor quality as well."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Douglas McCall, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said "The best way of putting these pirates out of business is not to buy from them."