With the World Cup in full swing, Staffordshire-based football fans are being alerted to the hidden dangers of counterfeit shirts.

The county council has warned that although the tops are cheaper than the authentic versions, fake shirts come with unexpected risks.

Official shirts, which fans usually buy online, are put through rigorous safety checks.

This is not the case for fake shirts meaning they can contain harmful toxins from dyes and materials.

They are also likely to be of poorer quality.

As well as this, counterfeit tops have links to organised crime gangs and can help to fund their operations.

Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said: "Lots of people will be looking forward to cheering on England in the World Cup which means looking the part and getting a shirt.

"We always see an increase in reports of counterfeit shirts in the run up to major football tournaments like the World Cup which is why we're reminding people about the risks of buying fakes.

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"Not only will you end up with poor quality items but many fakes pose safety risks and often fund extremely serious criminal activity.

"Our message to football fans is simple: if a deal on a shirt looks too good to be true, it probably is, and it's probably a fake.

"By choosing genuine products and buying from reputable retailers, you'll help protect yourself and support local businesses.

"You can report any suspected fakes to us and help keep your community safe."

Trading standards work to protect local communities by cracking down on the sale of illegal and counterfeit goods, which is part of the authority's recently published community safety strategy.

Anyone with concerns about counterfeit products can report them online on the Trading Standards Report It webpage or by calling 01785 330356.