DRINKERS and traders were warned today about a consignment of counterfeit vodka being offered for sale in North Yorkshire.

Trading standards officers have recovered more than 100 bottles from two premises, one in a village near Selby and a connected general store in the Doncaster area.

And they believe the fake vodka - which is significantly under strength from the original - could be on sale at premises throughout North Yorkshire.

Trading standards officer Richard Flinton said the rogue liquor was a 'Kirov' vodka, a popular brand. The genuine article sells at £7.69 a bottle while the counterfeit version was being sold at £7.49.

Members of the trading standards' special investigations team have had the bogus vodka analysed and while it is not thought to be dangerous to health, it is significantly under strength.

Although the liquid in the counterfeit bottles had not yet been fully identified, it was believed to be a form of watered-down vodka with a lemon odour.

Anyone who suspects they have bought the rogue spirit is being advised not to drink it and to contact the trading standards service immediately.

The original has an alcohol content by volume of 37.5 per cent compared to the counterfeit content of 29 per cent.

Trading standards officers say it is simple to tell the original from the counterfeit. The original has a red top with the brand name clearly imprinted in the top and a golden eagle design on the cap top. The fake bottles have just a plain red cap without any design or brand name on it.

Mr Flinton added: "We are investigating the source and supply of the counterfeit vodka. Whoever has supplied the two premises near Selby and Doncaster could well have supplied other premises as well.

"The labels are very convincing, but the tell-tale difference is the cap."

The head of North Yorkshire trading standards, Stuart Pudney, said: "We are urging people not to take any risks. There have been other occasions where counterfeit vodka has been analysed and found to contain industrial alcohol which would have been poisonous to anybody drinking it."

North Yorkshire trading standards can be contacted on 01609 780780.