SHOPPERS have been finding out about how to avoid cowboy traders.

Members of Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards team were on hand in the CrownGate Shopping centre to advise businesses and residents on issues such as rogue traders and safe internet shopping.

The aim of one-off event - which saw Counterfeit Kev modelling some of the fake goods seized by local Trading Standards officers - was to inform members of the public about their shopping rights, from returning faulty goods to buying safely over the internet.

There was also the opportunity for businesses to find out more about their responsibilities as traders and how to protect themselves from common business scams.

Jamie Colley, Trading Standards advice officer, said: "The event gave us a real opportunity to talk to residents of Worcestershire about problems that we can advice them on and highlight the work Trading Standards does and how it affects everyone in the county."

Everyone who took part in the Trading Standards survey on the day has now been entered into a prize draw to win an iPod shuffle.

For consumer advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.