CUMBRIA County Council's trading standards unit has been presented with a national award from the film industry in recognition of the team's success in tackling DVD piracy in the county.

The presentation was made by Raymond Leinster, Director General of FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft), at the national launch of the film industry's campaign against DVD piracy that was hosted by TV personalities Jonathon Ross and Lynn Faulds Wood at the National Film Theatre, London.

In a major operation earlier this summer, trading standards officers in the county targeted major suppliers and producers of illegal DVDs, CDs and PC games operating in Cumbria. More than 10,000 items were seized during a two-month operation including recording units, PCs and stocks of copied films and games intended for resale.