A SOUTHAMPTON firm is threatening the BBC with legal action after a TV programme showed Hampshire police pulling over motorists as part of a Japanese used car racket.

A routine check by bobbies at the city docks sparked an investigation which found that half the cars stopped were stolen.

It discovered they had been taken in Japan then shipped to Dubai, where they were given false paperwork and new identities.

But Southampton-based AutoTerminal - Britain's biggest importer of secondhand Japanese cars - claim footage of a motorist being stopped by police in the BBC's Watchdog programme, last month was mocked up.

They say the film, presented by Quentin Wilson, gave the impression that anyone driving a Japanese second-hand import would be stopped by officers and are now considering legal action.

Boss Martin Webb refused to confirm if the programme had damaged business.

He added: "Everyone in the industry knows that stolen cars are going through Dubai, but this is only a tiny minority. None of our cars come from Dubai.

"We have checked with Hampshire police and they have confirmed that they would have no reason at all to pull drivers over just because they are in grey (not direct from the manufacturer) imports.

A spokesman for the BBC said they could not comment on the situation.