Pirate videos and DVDs are being openly sold at boot sales across south Essex - and the proceeds used to fund organised crime, an Evening Echo investigation has revealed.

The fakes, including many which are not even on cinema release in this country, are being mass-produced at just 50p a time and sold on for up to £10 to eager buyers.

London-based gangs are hand-picking sites at boot sales including Sadlers Farm. They are also active at Boreham, near Chelmsford, which rates itself the biggest in Essex.

Tens of thousands of pounds are taken by the sellers of pirate films every weekend at those two sales alone.

One seller told the Evening Echo: "There are big-time crooks behind this, it is very organised. They rake in millions every year, and most of it goes towards funding other activities such as drug smuggling and prostitution, which can bring even bigger rewards."

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Published Wednesday August 21, 2002