More than 15,000 illicit cigarettes and 1,000 illegal vapes were seized after a number of raids at four high street shops.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Community Protection Team, Kent Trading Standards and Kent Police worked together to confiscate thousands of illegal and counterfeit goods.

The raids came after reports were made of shops in High Street, King Street, Knightrider Street and Week Street in Maidstone selling goods illegally.

Items seized on the day were: 15,920 cigarettes, 1,025 vapes, 6.65kg of tobacco, 30 packs of tobacco pods and 1,367 counterfeit items including designer bags and watches.

Leader of MBC, David Burton said: "Taking these illegal goods off the streets of Maidstone is vitally important.

"Illegal dealings like this very often feeds into other criminal activity and can be incredibly harmful to our community.

"People may not realise that the goods they are buying are not genuine and could be harmful to their health and wallet."