A BIG crackdown has been launched on CD pirates in West Yorkshire.

Enforcement agencies came together to combat car-boot traders selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs to West Yorkshire consumers.

Officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards, West Yorkshire Police, and the Department for Work and Pensions joined forces in a one-day operation in the Wakefield area.

It aimed to send a strong message to anybody selling counterfeit goods.

And they warned more operations are planned.

A number of vehicles at events across Wakefield were targeted resulting in the seizure of illegally copied music, videos, and DVDs worth more than £100,000 from six people.

West Yorkshire chief trading standards officer Martin Wood said: "This operation exemplifies the serious stance that we take towards counterfeit goods.

"We have a duty to secure a fair market place in West Yorkshire by ensuring traders operate legally and fairly.

"The sale of counterfeit goods undermines the local economy, costing jobs and misleading consumers."

Clr Tony Brice, a Kirklees councillor and member of the Trading Standards Committee, said: "Along with the other agencies involved in the operation we are determined to do what we can to tackle the illegal sale of this type of material.

"Music piracy costs the entertainment industry a fortune and the amount of goods that were seized on Sunday is quite staggering."

Staff from the Department for Work and Pensions discovered a number of individuals trading, who were also claiming benefits.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Benefit fraud is a very serious offence. Every man, woman and child loses when benefit is claimed fraudulently.

"The Department for Work and Pensions specialist team of investigators worked alongside the trading standards service to identify six benefit fraudsters and will continue to work with organisations to combat this type of crime."