A WINE merchant has called on the Government to do more to stop bootleggers ruining trade.

Richard Everton, who runs Everton's of Ombersley, near Worcester, says stores are being stung by criminals plying their under-the-counter trade.

He also wants a shake-up in the laws that allow people to undercut wine merchants by stocking up on duty free alcohol over the Channel.

His appeal follows new figures from Independent Retail News which reveal bootlegging is costing traders an estimated £700 per week in lost turnover -- a massive £36,000 per year in total.

Today, MPs, including Hereford's Paul Keetch, were due to join a nationwide day of action against bootlegging.

In Worcestershire alone this year, more than £1m of cigarettes and alcohol have been seized following swoops in Droitwich, Malvern, Kidderminster, and Worcester.

"It's a fact that bootlegging does go on," said Mr Everton.

Mr Everton said he often lost the opportunity to supply large functions with wine because of the lucrative savings people could make on "booze cruises".

"If you're making around £14 saving on a £36 case of wine, then it's obviously very attractive," he said.

"I think the Government should be doing more to protect wine merchants' trade."

Bill O'Leary, spokesman for Customs & Excise, said the Government had responded to the growing bootlegging problem with the appointment of 1,000 extra staff.

More investment in information technology resources has also been made, along with the introduction of mobile x-ray machines that can make a full sweep of a container within three minutes.

"In terms of trying to detect these massive quantities, everyone has this image of bootleggers as the white van trade," said Mr O'Leary.

"In fact, most of these major smugglers have experience of drug smuggling and use some very sophisticated containers to try to evade detection.

"These are the big fish, but the smaller fry needn't think they can get away with it."