The fake gear will have branding removed before being sold on

The counterfeit gear is then offloaded to inmates of a prison before being sold to the public.

But the sale is completely above board because the sell-off of the goods is part of a campaign to raise money for a charity.

Bogus CDs and clothes are some of the thousands of back-of-the-van goods given by Powys trading standards to the St David's Foundation charity, who will sell them in their shops throughout south east Wales.

We are pleased that we can help needy causes with large seizures of counterfeit items Graham Brown, councillor

But inmates at Usk prison are acting as middle-men by de-branding the clothes and destroying pirate CDs and blanking out pirate videos before passing them on to the charity.

The foundation offers nursing care and support for families whose lives have changed by cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

Recycled items

More than 2,00 families each year are helped by the charity.

"We are pleased that we can help needy causes with large seizures of counterfeit items, " said Powys Council's community services Board member, Graham Brown.

"It is pleasing that some good comes out of this important enforcement work and that we have found a source to be able to recycle the items and ensure they are put to good use."

The council's trading standards department seizes an enormous amount of fake goods from real-life Del Boy and Rodneys each year, and can be disposed of after defendants are prosecuted.

The back of the van goods will raise money for charity

"All suitable items will be sold through our charity shops which support the good work of the Foundation by passing over the profits from their activities," said Allan Devonald, head of retail with St David's Foundation Hospice.

Once goods are collected they are passed onto Usk prison where inmates work on goods to make them legal to sell.

"We are in the process of setting up our own brand which the prisoners will put on the clothes, " said Mr Devonald.

Urging people to be vigilant to avoid buying counterfeit goods, Clive Jones, special investigations trading standards officer, said: "Counterfeiting is an increasing problem and firm action will continue to be taken against those found to be involved in such illegal operations."