TWO hundred counterfeit toys have been seized from a market stall as part of a Christmas clampdown by Trading Standards officials.

But the trader caught out by the swoop on Blackburn Market has warned other traders to be extra cautious after claiming she obtained the stock from a legitimate supplier.

Julie Eddleston is now working with officials investigating the warehouse in Greater Manchester, where she said she bought the toys.

The trader, who runs The Toy Stall, bought more than £800 worth of stock, including Spongebob Squarepants, Bratz and Power Rangers merchandise, only for it to be taken off the shelves.

Checks on the rest of the stock revealed no further problems.

The trader, a 36-year-old single mother-of-two, said: "I have been here three years and never had any trouble before.

"I've always been really cautious and shown anything I'm not sure about to Trading Standards.

"I got the toys from a big supplier and they had the British standard marks and everything.

"The only thing that was missing was the manufacturer's postcode, and I didn't notice that.

"At the warehouse, you just pick how many of each thing you want and the staff get it for you.

"It could quite easily be the real thing off the shelf and a counterfeit in the boxes.

"Traders are very vulnerable.

"It breaks my heart that this has happened.

"About 40per cent of my annual turnover comes over Christmas and this is going to have a big impact.

"I'm working with the authorities to try and get my money back, but it will be a long process.

"I have told all my customers what has happened.

"I'm not going to hide it because I have done nothing wrong and I've got the paperwork to prove it.

"If you were going to deliberately buy backhanded stuff, then you wouldn't get receipts for it.

"Really, it's a good job they checked because if I had sold it and something had happened to a child it would have been awful.

"I just want everyone to be aware of the problems.

"I'm sure I have seen the same stock at other shops in Blackburn. Everyone needs to be careful."

A spokesman for Trading Standards said he was working with the trader to trace the origin of the fake toys, but no decision had yet been made over whether she would face charges.

He added that any allegations that the toys were on sale elsewhere in Blackburn would be investigated.

Chris Allen, head of Blackburn with Darwen Trading Standards, said: "By law, all toys sold in Britain and Europe should have a CE Mark on them, or on their display box, together with the manufacturer's or importer's name and address.

"That means, if there are any problems, investigators can go back to the source of the products.

"These items do have a fake CE mark, but there are no details of the importer or manufacturer."