ABOUT 80 suspect items of furniture have been found in a Polish lorry delivering to travellers in Crays Hill.

The furniture has been seized by Essex Trading Standards to allow fire safety tests to be carried out.

The seizure was made at Crays Hill Friday, shortly after an Echo story exposed possible links between the furniture trade and the smuggling of cigarettes hidden inside sofas. It followed a number of Echo special investigations into the sale of such furniture, which in the past has been found not to confirm to EU fire safety standards.

Customs officers are not involved in this investigation, but trading standards says the furniture will be weighed to check if anything is concealed inside.

The lorry’s Polish driver was interviewed, but later released with his vehicle.

Billericay MP John Baron, who has raised the issue in Parliament, said: “Trading Standards seized the goods on the basis of reasonable cause that the goods did not comply with UK safety regulations.

“They have assured me there will be a thorough investigation with regard to all allegations about these goods, and they will liaise with other authorities as necessary.”