OVER 45,000 pairs of fake Ugg boots worth £9m have been seized at Southampton Docks.

The boots, destined to flood the Christmas market, were stopped from getting any further than the containers they were packed in after they were discovered by officers.

In all six containers were found which contained a staggering 45,000 pairs of fake boots - thought to be the biggest seizure in Europe.

Suspicions were first raised when officers routinely scanned one of the containers which had come in from China and was destined to be sent on to Manchester.

A further inspection found a number of boxes inside which weren't labelled or marked and so the detailed search began.

Border Force Officer Phil Dunn said: “A further examination found the goods which although looked liked Ugg Boots, from the quality of them there was no way in the world they could be.

“This was a very large scale attempt to smuggle. We estimate if sold at retail value they would be worth just under £9m.”