Police and trading standards officers seized a chilling collection of lethal weapons and pirate porn films from a car boot sale in Edmonton.

The estimated £200,000 stash at the Harbet Road Industrial Estate car boot sale, included Samurai swords, spiked balls and chains, flick knives and air guns along with a collection of counterfeit DVDs, jeans and children's toy cars.

More than 30 police and trading standards officials raided 12 stalls at around 9.30am on Sunday.

The car boot sale had been under surveillance for the past three weeks as part of operation Pondlife.

Six men were arrested for a range of offences including suspicion of handling stolen goods, possessing offensive weapons and selling counterfeit goods.

They have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The operation was carried out as part of the Safer Businesses, Safer Streets initiatives within the neighbourhood Renewal Zone.

Supt Sultan Taylor said: "I am very pleased with the work between the police and the local authority. This initiative is the way forward.

"Hopefully we will send a strong message to those people who are selling these weapons. More initiatives are planned for the future."

The swords, believed to have been imported from the Far East, are bought by collectors, but are also bought to use as deadly weapons.

Trading Standards investigator Tony Allen said: "Some people buy these swords as ornaments but others buy them for illegal purposes and there is always the danger that they could fall into children's hands.

"We are very pleased with the results but are obviously very concerned. We didn't expect to find this much stuff and these type of weapons.

"We intend to look at other car boot sales and plan to survey shopping areas as well. We change our tactics all the time."

The collection of weapons and counterfeit goods will be destroyed by police.

January 29, 2003 12:00