The Harlow Herald

Counterfeit towels have helped needy animals

ESSEX County Council trading standards officers have donated 2000 towels to various animal charities across the county.

During a routine visit to North Weald market, trading standard officers found two men selling towels bearing trademarks such as Ralph Lauren, Next, Chanel and Versace.

Believing them to be counterfeit, officers seized the entire stock which consisted of around 2000 towels. They were later confirmed as counterfeit by the relevant trademark holders. The two men in question have received warnings and have been banned from trading at North Weald market.

Seeing the opportunity to help some local charities trading standards officer Peter Coates arranged an evening of de-branding, where trading standards officers gave up their own time to cut the trade marks out of the towels. Peter then contacted local charities and distributed the towels amongst them.

Cllr Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for waste and recycling said: "This was a very thoughtful thing to do and the towels will come in very handy for lots of animal charities with winter around the corner. I would like to thank trading standards officers for their hard work in finding the counterfeit towels and then distributing to deserving charities.

Share or bookmark this with...

 Facebook  Fark  del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  StumbleUpon  Furl