MARKET traders and inspectors have voiced concerns over the illegal trade in black market cigarettes in Walthamstow Market.

The sale of duty-free often substandard cigarettes by fly-pitchers has been on the increase over the last year, and many people on the market believe that not enough is being done to stop it.

Most of the cigarettes are sold at the junction of Westbury Road and High Street by groups of six to eight men, two or three of whom will do the selling while the others look out for the authorities.

Stallholders who have worked on the market for years and have to pay for a licence to operate are unhappy with official efforts to reign in the black marketeers.

Kim Lambert, 50, runs a fruit and veg stall near the junction said: "They've got no respect. Every time the police come, they run away, wait a while, then come back and start selling again."

Paul Hobbs, 31, sells shoes on his pitch and is angry that the gangs escape paying any rent. He said: "They pay no fees so I think they're taking a liberty. There's not enough police down here taking the gear off them."

A council spokeswoman said: "Inspectors patrol Walthamstow Market every day and will confiscate goods from anyone trading without permission in this way. Preventing the sale of duty free goods is a matter for Customs and Excise. "

Customs and Excise say they are aware of the trade in counterfeit and duty free cigarettes, and officers are working to prevent growth of the trade in the market place.

But market inspectors complain that they are limited when it comes to stopping the illegal trade.

The best they can do is to confiscate the goods, hand them over to trading standards and send the men on their way. An arrest can only be made if a police officer is present at the time.

One inspector said: " As soon as they see us coming in our uniforms they disappear round the corner or into the amusement arcade.

"When we have gone, they come back. We fear for our physical safety because they could have a knife or anything and there's rarely any police around. We need some plainclothes police down here. "

Anyone with information about the sale of illegally imported tobacco can speak confidentially to a customs official 24 hours a day on 0800 59 5000.