Christmas shoppers in south Wales are being warned to be on the lookout for fake designer goods.

Consumer Affairs Minister Kim Howells is taking his message against the counterfeiters to the Welsh capital.

The Pontypridd MP said the black-market business is worth around £3 billion a year - and that is just for clothes and jewellery.

He said bogus computer software is worth another £3 billion each year.

Mr Howells said he was determined to make sure that shoppers know their rights.

He is due to set up a stall with a suitcase full of counterfeit goods in one of Cardiff's main shopping streets - Queen Street - and will challenge seasonal shoppers to compare the quality of the fakes with the genuine articles.

Challenge

He will be challenging shoppers to test the smell of "look-a-like" perfumes with the real thing.

Shoppers will have an opportunity to see a whole range of counterfeit goods and discuss the dangers that surround them with the minister.

He will also be distributing leaflets and explaining to shoppers the best way for consumers to return unsatisfactory goods.

Mr Howells said shoppers should not be fooled into thinking buying fake goods was a victimless crime.

"There are people in Wales who make the genuine branded goods their jobs are being lost," he said.

"The revenue is going into the hands of gangsters.

"It's usually money coming from laundered drugs money.

"They set up a factory in the Ukraine or somewhere and turn their drugs money into even bigger profits.

"It may be a spiv or a Del boy character on the streets but the way in which organised crime gets its money is through these characters.

"These guys are really gangsters. They are not colourful little figures around the streets they really are responsible for some pretty dastardly things going on."

Representatives of the Welsh Consumer Council and Cardiff Trading Standards officers will also be on hand to reinforce the warning.