Car boot sales began as part of that great British tradition of secondhand dealing.

Jumble sales still fill village halls with bric-a-brac week after week and many of our largest charities have made a good business from selling on donated clothing.

Our very own classified section is filled, day after day, with furniture and much more.

But, sadly, wherever you find money changing hands, you will find rogue traders who go too far.

A raid by police and trading standards on the Big Ben's boot sale yesterday showed that criminals are targeting events on our doorstep.

They uncovered rogue traders selling counterfeit DVDs, CDs and hardcore pornography.

Car boot sales should be fun, family events in the sunshine.

We congratulate the authorities on this successful assault on the seedy few traders undermining it, and the organisers for their unequivocal condemnation of this illegal activity.

We hope they all continue their vigilance and urge everyone to strangle this illicit trade by refusing to buy dodgy goods and blowing the whistle on those who try to flog them.