Cheetham Hill nicknamed 'Counterfeit Street' and labelled 'counterfeit capital of the UK'

Police raids seized £1.5m worth of goods from 14 shops before Christmas

Goods seized by Greater Manchester Police in Cheetham Hill (Intellectual Property Office)

Cheetham Hill in Manchester has been nicknamed "Counterfeit Street", after several raids seized millions of pounds worth of fake goods.

Greater Manchester Police have targed the area in dozens of raids, seizing £1.5m worth of goods at 14 shops before Christmas.

A million counterfeit cigarettes and 70 kilos of fake tobacco, with an estimated value over £5m were seized in 2014.

In 2015, £1m in fake designer clothing and accessories were intercepted.

A report by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) said Cheetham Hill's counterfeiters trade out of shops, private homes, car boots and through "closed" social media groups.

According to the report, they have links to serious organised crime, drug dealing and violence.

Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe told the BBC the area is "almost like the counterfeit capital of the UK", with people taking away "fake hoverboards, booze or cigarettes".

The report said: “It is indicative of the entrenched criminal culture of the area that the trade in counterfeit goods has continued despite regular enforcement action and high-volume seizures,” said the report.

It added: “Cheetham Hill occupies a focal point in the UK market for counterfeit goods. In addition to the significant retail trade occurring directly from premises in the area, there is also information suggesting that local wholesale operations supply counterfeit goods to online and in-person traders across the UK.”