A Keighley tobacconist claims bootleggers could be costing shopkeepers up to a third of their trade. Roger Somers, right, who has a shop in Bow Street, says more local people now buy tobacco on the continent.

"Since they opened up the way to Europe people have been making a living out of it," he warns. "The situation is getting desperate, though you can't blame people for wanting to buy cut-price goods. The people who are buying it are not doing anything illegal - it is the ones who are selling it."

His comments follow a survey of over 500 independent retailers - published yesterday - which reveals that retailers have seen more than a third of their tobacco sales disappear in the last 12 months - costing them over £3 billion across the UK. On average this means independent retailers are losing £1,293 a week.

Independent Retail News is launching an action week from Monday. It will tell retailers how to spot bootlegged goods and invite them to call a special Customs and Excise hotline wit details of bootlegging activity in their area. It will also ask them and their customers to petition Parliament and write to chancellor Gordon Brown urging him to reduce taxes on alcohol and tobacco.

"There is now a criminal element who are involved in bootlegging and they are making a lot of money out of it," warns Mr Somers.

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