Lancashire County Council Trading Standards

Press Releases and News Items in 2008 and 2007

Lancashire is now included in the bluetongue protection zone.
see http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm

AUGUST 2008

Lottery bullies costing Lancashire consumers thousands of pounds - change in law required - Wednesday, 27th August 2008 (PR08/0562)
Vulnerable householders are being increasingly targeted by aggressive fraudsters according to Trading Standards officers.

Vigilance urged following fake vodka haul Wednesday, 27th August 2008 (PR08/0564)
Retailers and consumers are being warned to be wary of fake vodka as a wave of counterfeit alcohol is detected in the county.

JULY 2008

Lancashire authorities turn the tide on loan sharks Wednesday, 16th July 2008 (PR08/0449)
The three Lancashire local authorities are joining forces with a pioneering team to tackle loan sharks.

Cheap can be cheerful say Trading Standards Monday, 14th July 2008 (PR08/0433)
Cheap make-up is safe make-up according to Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards officers. Following last year's problems with toothpaste containing diethylene glycol, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service decided to carry out a range of tests on other products.

JUNE 2008

Alcohol project scoops major national award Monday, 30th June 2008 (PR08/0406)
A project to tackle the sale of alcohol and tobacco to children and young people in Lancashire has won a major national award.

New line set up to hook sharks Friday, 27th June 2008 (PR08/0402)
Lancashire residents who have fallen prey to loan sharks can now seek help and advice from a new helpline.
The helpline number - 0300 555 2222 - has been welcomed by Lancashire County Council and covers the North West as well as Yorkshire and Humberside, South East and Central England.

Lancashire welcomes new "Scambusters" team Friday, 27th June 2008 (PR08/0401)
Rogue traders and other con merchants in Lancashire and the North West are set to be thwarted by a new team of 'Scambusters' backed by £825,000 of Government funding.

MAY 2008

Alcohol project in line for national award Thursday, 29th May 2008 (PR08/0311)
A project to tackle the sale of alcohol and tobacco to children and young people in Lancashire has been placed in the national spotlight. The work of Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards in partnership with Young People's Alcohol Project has been shortlisted for the Public Protection of the Year prize in the Municipal Journal's Local Government Achievement Awards 2008.

New targets for beefed-up Trading Standards include bogus closing-down sales Friday, 23rd May 2008 (PR08/0285)
Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards team has a new weapon to use in the war on rogue traders.

Rogue traders targeted in joint operation Thursday, 22nd May 2008 (PR08/0282)
Rogue builders, roofers and construction companies are being warned to improve drastically or face the consequences, following a joint operation by Lancashire County Council Trading Standards and Police Departments this week.

APRIL 2008

Swoop smashes fake vodka scam Wednesday, 30th April 2008
A joint operation involving Lancashire Trading Standards and Customs officials has resulted in the seizure of more than 100 bottles of potentially lethal fake vodka.

Blowing the whistle on dangerous toys Wednesday, 30th April 2008 (PR08/0211)
Lancashire consumers are being warned to be on their guard for dangerous children's whistles sold on the streets in the North West.

MARCH 2008

Tackle pressure on young to drink, councillors urge Thursday, 20th March 2008
(PR08/0144)
More must be done to tackle alcohol misuse amongst young people in Lancashire, according to a County Council task group.

FEBRUARY 2008

Attack on scams hailed a success Wednesday, 27th February 2008 (PR08/0092)
Lancashire residents have been praised for their help in the fight against con-artists as 'Scamnesty' month comes to an end.

Trading Standards' warning to the motor trade Friday, 8th February 2008 (PR08/0059)
Motor traders in Lancashire are being advised to ensure the cars they sell are safe following a joint operation by Lancashire County Council and the Vehicle Operators and Standards Agency (VOSA).

"Scamnesty" campaign launches in Lancashire Tuesday, 5th February 2008 (PR08/0055)
Consumers in Lancashire are being enlisted to join the fights against scams as part of a country-wide initiative.

JANUARY 2008

Warning over dodgy roof repairs Wednesday, 23rd January 2008 (PR08/0036)
Home owners are being warned against a roofing repair company who seem to cause more problems than they solve - yet still walk away with several thousands of pounds.

DECEMBER 2007

Trading Standards' toy safety warning Thursday, 20th December 2007 (PR07/0694)
Lancashire's consumers are being warned to be on their guard for fake toys in the run up to Christmas after items worth £1,500 were seized in raids on shops in the county.

Trading Standards urge be a Scrooge on packaging Monday, 17th December 2007 (PR07/0680)
Shoppers, retailers and manufacturers are being urged to do their bit this Christmas to tackle excessive packaging.

Warning on festive fakes Thursday, 13th December 2007 (PR07/0676)
Lancashire's consumers are being warned to be on their guard for festive fakes in the run up to Christmas after items worth around £25,000 were seized in one week.

Fake invoice warning Monday, 10th December 2007 (PR07/0666)
Businesses are being warned about the latest bogus invoice scam circulating in Lancashire.

Trading Standards warns Hajj pilgrims to beware of rogue travel agents Thursday, 6th December 2007 (PR07/0662)
Lancahire County Council's Trading Standards service is warning Muslims planning to make the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, to be on guard against unscrupulous tour operators.

NOVEMBER 2007

Trading Standards Service - contaminated toothpaste warning Monday, 5th November 2007 (PR07/0595)
Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards Service is warning consumers about contaminated toothpaste found on sale in the county.

OCTOBER 2007

Trading Standards issue fireworks safety warning Thursday, 11th October 2007 (PR07/0547)
Retailers are being urged to act responsibly in the run up to bonfire night by ensuring that they stick to the rules on firework sales.

SEPTEMBER 2007

Lancashire foot and mouth controls eased Wednesday, 26th September 2007 (PR07/0516)
Lancashire and the surrounding area has been classified as a low risk area for foot and mouth controls.

Lancashire Foot and Mouth update Tuesday, 18th September 2007 (PR07/0499)
A change in Foot and Mouth control legislation now means that farmers can move livestock direct to abattoir, collection centre or slaughter market.

Dialamobile 'Cash Back' Scheme Collapses Friday, 14th September 2007 (PR07/0493)
Hundreds of Lancashire mobile phone users have been left with worthless 'cash back' deals following the closure of a major mobile phone dealer Dialamobile Ltd trading as Mobile Connections.

Mobile Connections and Dial a Mobile Ltd If you are having problems with claiming cashbacks on mobile phones from Mobile Connections or Dialamobile, please follow this link to Birmingham Trading Standards' webpage

Foot and Mouth patrols continue in Lancashire Thursday, 13th September 2007 (PR07/0489)
County council and police officers have pledged to continue their patrols to keep Foot and Mouth disease out of Lancashire.

New Foot and Mouth restrictions Wednesday, 12th September 2007 (PR07/0486)
Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards and police officers have reacted swiftly to news of a new Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey.

TV advertisers switched off Monday, 3rd September 2007 (PR07/0459)
Two companies that duped Lancashire businesses into parting with thousands of pounds have been wound up.

AUGUST 2007

Minimum age to buy tobacco to increase in one month Friday, 31st August 2007
(PR07/0456)
There is just one month to go before the minimum age for buying tobacco is raised to 18. From 1st October 2007 it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 in England and Wales.

Foot and Mouth controls to be eased Thursday, 30th August 2007
(PR07/0450)
Restrictions imposed following the recent Foot and Mouth outbreak are beginning to ease with some animal movements being allowed between farms and to slaughter.

Toxic toothpaste - over 100 complaints received by Trading Standards Friday, 10th August 2007 (PR07/0422)
Trading Standards officers are repeating their warning about fake toothpaste after visits to businesses in Lancashire revealed the dangerous product could still be on sale.

Lancashire Foot and Mouth update Thursday, 9th August 2007 (PR07/0419)
Farmers in Lancashire are being urged to continue to obey the ban on animal movements by Trading Standards and police officials.

New bank fraud warning Wednesday, 8th August 2007 (PR07/0416)
Lancashire consumers are being warned to be on their guard against the latest banking scam.

JULY 2007

Trading Standards fake toothpaste warning Monday, 16th July 2007 (PR07/0374)
Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards service is warning consumers about fake toothpaste which may be on sale in the county.

JUNE 2007

Recipe 4 Health in Chorley Monday, 11th June 2007 (PR07/0263)
Visitors to Chorley town centre were given a tasty treat when the Recipe 4 Health roadshow rolled into town.

MAY 2007

New test for weighbridges in Lancashire Friday, 25th May 2007 (PR07/0214)
A new piece of equipment will be helping Trading Standards officers to get to grips with a particularly weighty issue in Lancashire

Recipe 4 Health in Chorley Tuesday, 22nd May 2007 (PR07/0206)
Chorley will be at the centre of a healthy eating revolution on 5 June when the Recipe 4 Health road show comes to town.

Bedtime drinks leave bitter after-taste Thursday, 17th May 2007 (PR07/0194)
Tests have shown that salt levels in processed foods could leave a bitter taste in the mouth for Lancashire consumers.

Trading Standards vow Big Weekend clampdown Tuesday, 15th May 2007 (PR07/0187)
Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards Service is issuing a zero tolerance warning to street sellers who may be tempted to attend Radio 1's Big Weekend to sell fake goods.

FEBRUARY 2007

Bird markets banned after flu outbreak Thursday, 8th February 2007
(PR07/0060)
Lancashire Trading Standards will be enforcing a ban on bird markets following government precautions to prevent an outbreak of bird flu.

JANUARY 2007

Trading Standards welcome new tobacco age-limit Friday, 26th January 2007
(PR07/0042)
LancashireTrading Standards has backed moves to increase the age-limit for buying tobacco to 18, declaring it will help in the fight against underage sales.

Beware cowboy builders after storms Trading Standards warn Friday, 19th January 2007
(PR07/0031)
Conmen could prey on vulnerable residents by offering to do property repair work in the wake of recent stormy weather, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service has warned.

Trading Standards take a bow Monday, 8th January 2007 (PR07/0012)
The job description of a Trading Standards officer doesn't usually include "performing in the dramatic arts" - but county council officers have been taking to the boards to impress the safety message on the county's older residents.

Link to Press Releases and News Items in 2006

Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, 58-60 Guildhall Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3NU.
Telephone: 0845 600 1352 or (01772) 533573 Fax: (01772) 533591 Electronic Mail: feedback@lancashire.gov.uk

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