HUNDREDS of pirate DVDs - many of films not yet being shown in UK cinemas - were seized in a raid at a car boot sale in Ebbw Vale.

Hollywood movies such as I, Robot, and The Punisher, not yet on cinema release in the UK, were among hundreds of counterfeit DVDs seized in the raid at Festival Park, Ebbw Vale, on Sunday.

Officers from Blaenau Gwent county borough council's trading standards section and Ebbw Vale Police carried out the raid after complaints received from the public.

They seized 350 films, worth more than £6,000. Richard Prince, principal fair trading officer at Blaenau Gwent, said DVDs of films such as summer blockbuster I, Robot, starring Will Smith and based on the writing of science fiction author Isaac Asimov, and The Punisher, a thriller based on the Marvel Comics character, not released in the UK, were seized.

Spider-Man 2 and King Arthur, released in UK cinemas on Friday, were also among the counterfeit DVDs.

Mr Prince said the raid came after members of the public made complaints to trading standards after seeing counterfeits being sold at the car boot sale in previous weeks.

He said: "This sends the message out to other people who are thinking of copying and selling."

Steve Jones, head of trading standards, said: "The sale of fake CD's and DVDs effects the economic welfare of legitimate traders and leads to job losses locally and throughout the industry as a whole.

"Recent press coverage has highlighted the fact that the sale of fake DVDs is being used to fund organised crime and is the perfect method of funding a number of terrorist groups.

"I would urge people to think about where their money is really going."

DC Will Duggan, of Ebbw Vale Police, said anyone with any information on counterfeit goods could call police or local trading standards.

l Two people were arrested in connection with the seizure and other sellers are being questioned.