A Lewisham retailer has been found with more than £100,000 worth of illegal tobacco – believed to be the biggest find by trading standards officers in the country.

The Lee High Road retailer was searched on March 22, but the shop's name has not been revealed.

Despite the owners claim not to stock cigarettes, trading standards officers used a dog called Jack to sniff out 600kg of illegal Chinese hand rolling tobacco, with a potential street value of more than £100,000.

The owner of the shop is now under investigation.

In the same week officers seized 10,000 Chinese cigarettes and counterfeit hand rolling tobacco in Deptford, and 15,000 Russian cigarettes in Lee Green

Lewisham Council cabinet member for customer services Councillor Susan Wise said: "Organised criminal gangs play a key role in the supply of illicit tobacco, especially counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes.

"This illegal trade does damage well beyond adverse health impacts and loss of government revenue as it can support other criminal activity such as the supply of controlled drugs, stolen goods and illegal alcohol."

Anyone with information should call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0845 404 0506