"Extremely harmful" skin lightening products have been seized in a raid on a business in Romford.

Skin lightening products worth around £21,000 were seized from a Romford business by Havering Council's trading standards team, which confiscated 1,400 items.

This follows an investigation supported by police and enforcement officers.

Ray Morgon, council leader, said: “Any business in our borough found selling products that are harmful and breach regulations, are treated extremely seriously by the council."

Seized items included soaps, serums, creams and lotions non-compliant with UK regulations or illegal to sell within its borders.

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The business cannot be named at this time due to ongoing investigations, the council said.

But if convicted, there will be a fine and possible prison time for those responsible, it was added.

Certain seized products contain banned ingredients such as mercury, hydroquinone, and corticosteroids.

These have extremely harmful side affects.

The trading standards team will organise further samples of the seized products to be tested and request further information from the trader, the council added.