WITH all the hype about the millennium, it was only time until some unscrupulous character tried to cash in on people's wish to celebrate in style.

This week we report on how fake bottles of champagne are doing the rounds. They are being sold at around £35, and contain nothing more effacacious than a sparkling perry.

So it seems that even if we decide to celebrate the millennium at home, and not pay the exorbitant prices being charged by some restaurants and pubs, we could still fall victim to those out to make a huge profit.

Let's hope the millennium bubble bursts for these conmen.

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