Shoppers learn how to sniff out a fake! (From Warrington Guardian)

Shoppers learn how to sniff out a fake!

FAKE leather sofas should be easier to spot after Trading Standards invited people to smell the difference last weekend.

The borough council has been inundated with complaints from people who have been approached by men in the street offering to sell three-piece suites described as leather.

A stall in Warrington Market aimed to stop people being duped by the conmen by encouraging them to touch and smell the plastic covered furniture.

Some people have handed over £350 without being given the chance to examine their purchase, they unwrap the furniture - only then do they find the smell that greets them isn't that of leather but of plastic.

Edwina Greenwood, principal trading standards officer, said: "A disabled woman from Padgate contacted the mobile number in a newspaper advertisement and received her dodgy delivery from a man in a white van.

"Hopefully, by raising awareness of these fakes, we can prevent more people falling victim to one of these rogues."

Mike Lee, community support officer, said: "People are being duped into paying hundreds of pounds for these fake leather sofas and we are determined to clamp down on the rogue traders responsible.

"If shoppers take a couple of minutes to see what a fake leather sofa looks like, it could prevent them from making an expensive mistake by handing over their hard earned money to a crook.

"I would also urge people to speak to us if they have any doubts about a purchase they may have already made."

To contact Warrington Trading Standard call 444400.