SHOPPERS are being warned about buying bogus goods after a mock auction came to Chorley last week.

Knock-down electrical items were being sold in the store on Chapel Street formerly owned by Norweb.

Fly posters in the shop window, which was covered with shutters, advertised the special offers. Deals included fax machines for £99.99 and computer game consoles for less than £20.

According to Chorley Police, the auctions started last Tuesday as the shop, which is still on the market, lay empty.

Trading Standards officers are now joining forces with the police to investigate the auction. Jim Potts of Lancashire County Council explained: "We have received two complaints and we are looking into it. We suspect these people are shop squatters, that is they produced bogus documents claiming they had an agreement with the lease owners to use the premises.

"These auctions are often staged and people are planted in the audience to create an atmosphere. Then members of the public get caught up in the heat of the moment and before they know it they've bought a black bin liner full of substandard goods.

"But we have been running a campaign and would like to say to people don't go in and get carried away because you'll more than likely come out with a bag of rubbish."

A spokesman for Chorley Police said: "All we can really do is prevent breaches of the peace, because there might be trouble between the trader and the disgruntled customer. Our advice is be careful before handing over money."

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