SWINDON stashes accounted for more than a third of almost half a million counterfeit cigarettes seized across the region this month.

Trading Standards, HMRC officers and police visited shops across the town as part of a south west crackdown on illicit goods.

As well as 92kg of rolling tobacco and over 335,000 counterfeit or illegal cigarettes seized in a single day in Swindon, officers took 25.1 litres of spirits from shelves.

Coun Cathy Martin of Swindon Borough Council, said: "This operation with HMRC and Wiltshire Police sends out a strong message that we are clamping down on the sale of illegal tobacco in Swindon. The availability of illegal tobacco undermines people’s attempts to quit smoking and makes it all too easy for children to get hold of, as it is sold at pocket money prices."

Det Sgt Alex Spargo added: "This operation was a great example of partners working together to tackle organised criminality.”