A fashion retailer has launched an internal investigation after allegations that real fur is being sold as fake fur in some of its products.

Missguided, which is due to open its second ever shop in Bluewater this summer, said it does not condone the use of fur in any of its clothing lines.

It comes after an investigation by Sky News found four types of animal fur being sold on the British high street despite being marketed as fake.

A fibres expert identified items consistent with rabbit, raccoon dog, mink and cat being missold.

All the items found were reportedly labelled as “made in China” and priced at £30 or under.

A spokesman for Missguided said: “Missguided does not condone the use of fur in any of its products therefore we take the allegations made by Sky News very seriously.

“We have launched an internal investigation with the relevant suppliers and will ensure these matters are addressed urgently.”

House of Fraser, which has had a store at Bluewater since the shopping centre opened in 1999, has also stopped selling a pair of gloves which have been implicated in the study.

"We would never knowingly mislead our customers, who we believe have the right to know what they purchasing..." - House of Fraser

It has offered to refund customers and will hold talks with suppliers.

A spokesperson said: “House of Fraser has a strict no fur policy and we ensure all of our suppliers and brand partners are aware of this.

“We would never knowingly mislead our customers, who we believe have the right to know what they purchasing.

“We are extremely concerned that fur can be mislabeled in this way, particularly for brands that we stock.

“Our customers want assurances that House of Fraser is not be complicit in such unnecessary suffering of animals and we take this issue very seriously and have communicated this to the brand in question.”