Officials from Somerset County Council raided Standerwick Market, near Frome in Somerset, last Sunday.

A 20-strong team seized the items, which included music CDs, DVDs and computer software, from seven stalls.

The raid followed several weeks of surveillance by officers of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA).

Trading Standards operations manager, Andy Fowler, said: "The sale of counterfeit goods in Somerset not only harms the interests of legitimate local businesses but often proves to be a waste of money for the purchaser.

This initiative is a good example of what can be achieved Claire Gordon

"While we were seizing goods people were returning items they had purchased the week before because they did not work."

Trading Standards portfolio holder, councillor Claire Gordon said: "This initiative is a good example of what can be achieved when officers from the local authority work in partnership with private industry.

Director of anti-piracy at the BPI, David Martin said: "The BPI are grateful to Somerset County Council Trading Standards department and the police for their professional assistance in seizing thousands of illegal music CDs."

Following the raid, two traders are likely to face charges under the Trade Marks Act.