The Evening Press was today praised for exposing the growing problem of counterfeit goods in Britain.

SPOT THE FAKE: The authentic Noe bag by Louis Vuitton is on the left, the fake is on the right

Our in-depth article on how to spot counterfeit items, published in the run up to Christmas last year, is being featured at a national conference on how to beat the problem.

About 200 people are expected to attend the conference in Bristol, which is organised by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group and which will be attended by representatives from big brand names such as Levi's, Gucci and Chanel.

Patricia Leonard, of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, is using the Evening Press article as an example of how the media can lend a helping hand by letting people know how to detect a counterfeit.

Ms Leonard said: "The Evening Press did a great article. It shows that in partnership with local media you can get the message through."

We featured photographs of goods and pinpointed the tell-tale signs of a counterfeit.

As Christmas again approaches, the message is again being driven home with warnings to shoppers to be aware that counterfeit goods might be on sale.

Ms Leonard said: "The obvious thing is the actual price of something being offered. If the price makes you think it is too good to be true then stand back and think why. Secondly, there is place - where the goods are sold. Branded labels are not sold through street traders.

"Then look at packaging, labelling, the detail on the goods. On counterfeit garments, the seams might not be finished off and logos might be stuck on rather than embroidered."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.