Ealing Council’s trading standards officers have confiscated more than 100 bottles of counterfeit vodka, some of which has been linked to causing permanent blindness.

The bottles of counterfeit Imperial Vodka were seized from Southall, as part of a borough wide operation tackling the sale of phony branded alcohol from shops.

The fake Imperial Vodka, the brand name used exclusively by Spar supermarket, is not being sold through Spar outlets. It contains potentially harmful levels of methanol, which could have serious health effects, including blindness, if consumed in large quantities.

Trading standards officers have also found counterfeit Glen’s Vodka in various quantities, which are also thought to contain higher levels of methanol than normally found in the authentic brand. Samples have now been sent off for testing.

Councillor Vlod Barchuk, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “It is very concerning that traders are putting people’s health at risk by selling"fake alcoholic products."

"We will be continuing with the investigation in a bid to rid the borough of these dangerous products. I would urge anyone who has bought these products, or are worried about their authenticity, to contact the Council’s trading standards department via Consumer Direct immediately."