Paddington Bear
Fake Paddington Bear merchandise priced at nearly £10,000 has been seized in a raid on Oxford Street.
T-shirts, tote bags, magnets and shot glasses emblazoned with the duffle-coat-wearing ursine were all found to be bearing counterfeit images.
The owners of the Paddington brand helped trading standards officers from Westminster City Council identify material used without permission.
Adam Hug from the council said: “People trying to fleece Paddington fans have felt the long arm of the paw”.
The operation was part of a wider scheme targeting businesses selling fake goods and American candy stores selling snacks containing banned ingredients.
Hug said conning shoppers with fake Paddington goods “is bear-faced cheek we won’t stand for”.
The action was taken ahead of the release of the latest Paddington film.