Paddington Bear fake merchandise seized in raids

Magnets, bags, thimbles and spoon rests were among seized items

Counterfeit Paddington Bear merchandise due to be sold at more than £15,000 has been seized in a trading standards crackdown in west London.

Almost 2,000 fakes were confiscated from shops in Notting Hill - where some scenes from the Paddington Bear film franchise were filmed.

Five shops on Earl's Court Road yielded magnets, bags, shot glasses, packs of playing cards, thimbles and spoon rests.

A raid in Portobello Road recovered 1,500 fakes, including tote bags priced at £10 each, according to Kensington and Chelsea Council.

The crackdown came as the latest Paddington Bear film was released

A number of shot glasses were also seized from shops in the west London borough

The council said there had been a sharp rise in illegal sales of counterfeit merchandise in the borough ahead of the release of the latest film in the franchise, Paddington in Peru.

Spokesperson Cem Kemahli said: "Our trading standards team are 'bearing down' and taking swift action against sellers who are undermining legitimate businesses in our borough".

The confiscated goods will be destroyed and the business owners will face formal action, the council added.