On the left is Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at St Albans City and District Council, on the right is Guy Pratt, Head of Hertfordshire Trading Standards

Hertfordshire Trading Standards has helped St Albans Market become the third market in the county to sign up to a national pledge to help fight counterfeiting and promote fair trade.

The Real Deal National Charter was launched in 2009 by the Industry Trust for Intellectual Property Awareness to help keep traders in counterfeit goods out of UK markets. Officials from St Albans City and District Council received a certificate of achievement recognising their work in keeping counterfeit goods out of the market at a special Real Deal launch event today (Wednesday 6 March). Hertfordshire County Councillor Richard Thake, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We are very pleased to be able to support the Real Deal initiative and help St Albans Market achieve the chartered status. It is a great way to give shoppers the confidence that what they are buying from the market is real and not a potential dangerous fake. “We want to encourage as many of Hertfordshire’s markets to follow this example and sign up to the charter.” Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at St Albans City and District Council, said: “The market in St Albans is ancient, thriving and famous. It brings people into the city from all over the country, contributing significantly to local economic prosperity. By signing up to the Real Deal we are demonstrating our top quality credentials, and our vigilance in working to ensure that market stall holders continue to trade fairly and that products are safe and legal.” Hitchin was the first market in Hertfordshire to sign the charter in October 2010, followed by Royston in June 2012.