ILLEGAL tobacco worth £10,000 has been seized from three Southampton shops.

Hampshire police's sniffer dog team found the illegal goods in Shirley and Woolston.

Some of the tobacco was hidden within a stud wall, and, in Woolston, it was concealed within packs of children’s floor mats that had been hollowed out and bundled together.

Police have confirmed that the two Shirley stores were Fajny Sklep and UK Zabka, both located on Shirley Road.

They were unable to disclose the Woolston shop "at this time".

This seizure adds to £10,000 worth of illegal tobacco seized in the city last month and also in March. As well as this, £13,000 worth of goods were seized in February.

Southampton City Council’s Trading Standards team was also part of the operation.

Cllr Steven Galton, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "With police and community partners, we're determined to stop the flow of illegal tobacco locally.

"I am very pleased with the effectiveness of our regular illegal tobacco enforcement actions this year, taking more than £43,000 in illicit goods from these traders.

"Buying illegal tobacco not only puts your health at increased risk, but also harms our local communities by encouraging more criminal behaviour."