A CACHE of counterfeit Ryder Cup goods worth hundreds of pounds has been seized from a Greenock gift shop in a raid.

Trading Standards bosses swooped on Gifto in the Oak Mall and left with bags containing no less than 61 fake polo shirts.

Shop bosses claim they were completely unaware the items weren’t authentic — and insist they bought them in good faith from an off-the-street salesman.

They forked out for between 70-75 shirts but the deal proved a costly mistake after the remaining 61 shirts in stock were taken by authorities following a tip-off to Trading Standards.

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said: “Trading Standards received a complaint and visited premises in Greenock.

“Goods were seized and investigations are ongoing.” The polo shirts were taken as the build-up begins for the huge golf event at Gleneagles, which tees off on Friday.

Aftam Alam, who owns Gifto, today told the Telegraph that he was completely unaware of any copyright infringement on selling the goods and said he was co-operating fully with authorities.

The shop boss added that he’d bought the shirts in good faith from a salesman from Glasgow.

He told the Tele: “Trading Standards came into the shop and I was really shocked.

“They said ‘this is copyrighted’ and took the shirts away.

“A mistake happened.

“I haven’t got a clue about copyright — I haven’t ever thought about it.

“I was a bit confused but I went on to check the internet and I realise now they were right.

“I’ve been co-operative with the authorities.” A local shopper, who did not want to be named, today praised the authorities for taking action and highlighted the damage the counterfeit trade can cause.

He said: “Trading Standards are to be commended on this occasion.

“I know lots of local people who have lost jobs because of the widespread sale of these counterfeit goods in retailers and also on Facebook.

“This is often forgotten when people think of counterfeit goods, as they see this as a victimless crime unless of course it affects them directly.”