Businesses in West Yorkshire are going over the top when packaging their products, according to a survey.

Trading standards officers say they are using far too much - sometimes conning shoppers into thinking they are getting better value for money.

Now shoppers are being asked to blow the whistle on companies using too much packaging

The survey, part of a crackdown on waste in the North, revealed that 95 per cent of companies checked in West Yorkshire and 80 per cent in North Yorkshire were going overboard with the amount of packing materials they used.

Under new legislation brought in this year it is an offence for manufacturers or importers to use too much.

West Yorkshire chief trading standards officer Martin Wood said: "Undoubtedly manufacturers are playing on the first impressions a customer gets from packaging - it is regarded as an important factor in making a decision to purchase.

"However, while the packaging may be eye-catching, it may also have the effect of misleading customers into thinking they are getting more for their money than they actually are.

"The wasteful use of precious resources is one of the most serious problems we face today.

"Businesses have been aware of these requirements for more than a year and should have taken steps to ensure they meet them.!

Tests on 105 products showed two thirds had at least 50 per more packaging than necessary and 15 had twice the amount.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce president Dr Derek Wood said strict regulations controlled packaging and firms could be in trouble if they breached them.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.