Parents have been warned about buying ‘dangerous’ gifts for their children this Christmas.
The alert comes after police seized £1million worth of fake gear on Manchester's 'Counterfeit Street' last week.
Police have now warned shoppers, who visited Bury New Road from as far away as Newcastle, that counterfeit goods dodge rigorous safety checks.
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Superintendent Helen Critchley told the M.E.N: “It is important to highlight the risks of counterfeit goods, and we are keen to issue a reminder of the possible dangers, especially in the run up to Christmas.
“Electrical items for example undergo rigorous testing and have legal requirements for a reason.
"Counterfeit goods often bypass this process, and can therefore cause serious harm down the line.
“It could be especially dangerous for children and young people, for example, who may have been gifted a counterfeit good.”
Drug dealing, prostitution and street harassment are also rife in the mile-long stretch in Cheetham Hill which locals believe has become effectively "lawless".
Inspector William Jennings-Wharton, of Cheetham Hill's neighbourhood team, said he plans to launch a campaign to raise awareness among members of the public regarding the sale of counterfeit goods.
Speaking to the M.E.N, he said: “We hit a property down here last week and there were people from Newcastle and Liverpool who had come down to do their Christmas shopping.
"There's a lot more that sits behind somebody coming down just to buy a cheap Christmas present. You're funding wider criminality.
"The work doesn't stop here - we have always taken action in the area and will continue to do so - especially in the run up to Christmas."
Police and the council insist they are tackling the "deep-rooted" issues in the area but admit "we can't fix it overnight".
