A massive 26,550 counterfeit items were seized in raids in Bedfordshire during 2007, it has been revealed.

The figures are contained in the Intellectual Property Crime Report List 2007, published on Monday by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Intellectual property or IP crime involves the counterfeiting and piracy of trademark and copyrighted goods and materials, including consumer products, luxury goods, fashion wear, electrical equipment, audiovisual media, toys games and gadgets, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals and medicines and automotive parts.

Consumers who buy fake goods on the cheap will end up worse off in the long run and in some cases are taking risks with their health, the Government said.

Lord Triesman, parliamentary under secretary of state for intellectual property and quality, said: "The Government considers IP crime to be a serious threat both in criminal terms and to the wellbeing of the UK economy.

"Buying cheap goods may seem like a bargain especially in the run up to Christmas but that doesn't mean you are getting a good deal, in fact you are probably worse off in the long run."

The intellectual property (IP) crime market in the UK has been estimated as worth around £1.3 billion per year.

The cost to UK taxpayers of counterfeit cigarettes alone was £2.9 billion in 2006.

The report also highlights the increasing use of the internet for criminals selling fakes on demand.