Wayne Rooney's fiance Coleen McLoughlin's had an embarrassing moment at Manchester airport recently. escape... helps you avoid a similar situation.

WAYNE Rooney's fiance found herself in hot water recently after returning from a much-publicised £10,000 shopping spree in New York.

Coleen McLoughlin, 18, pictured above, was unaware that she had to declare any of the designer goods she had bought.

She was questioned by Customs officials as she tried to pass through the Nothing to Declare exit at Manchester Airport.

The aspiring actress had been treated to the transatlantic shopping trip by Rooney, who recently joined Manchester United in a £27m deal.

A spokesman for Miss McLoughlin said: "She was unaware that she was in breach of any regulations and co-operated fully with Customs officers in paying duty. No charges have been brought."

A Customs and Excise spokesman said they had stopped 14 people on that flight. "A number of them were stopped in relation to underpaid duty and an appropriate financial penalty was applied. No arrests were made."

Miss McLoughlin was detained at the airport for around two hours.

Passengers returning to the UK who pass through the Nothing to Declare Customs channel are only allowed to carry £145 worth of miscellaneous goods, such as jewellery and clothing.

WHAT YOU CAN BRING IN DUTY FREE

British travellers returning home from a non-EU country (including the Canary Islands, Channel islands and Gibraltar) can bring the following in without paying UK tax or duty:

n 2 litres of still table wine;

n 250cc of eau de toilette;

n 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;

n 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume, or 2 litres of fortified wine such as port or sherry, sparkling wine or other liqueurs;

n £145 worth of all other goods, including gifts and souvenirs.

Travellers who bring in something worth more than £145 must pay charges on the full value of the goods.

TRAVEL WITHIN THE EU

Under the EU's rules, shoppers can buy any amount of drink and cigarettes abroad, excise duty paid, and bring it into Britain without paying British excise duties, as long as it is for their themselves and not for commercial sale.

* Up to 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos

* 90 litres wine (max of 60l of sparkling wine)

* 110 litres of beer

Above these "indicative" levels, shoppers can expect to be asked to pay duty and possibly fined with the loss of the goods, if stopped by Customs .

* British duty is supposed to be paid on all alcohol and cigarette goods being brought in for someone else even if it is on a not-for-profit basis.