A Southall jeweller has been ordered to pay more than £7,500 in fines and court costs after offering gold for sale without an official hallmark.

Sixteen gold rings, one gold pendant, and two three-piece gold pendant sets were seized from Waseem Jewellers, 130 The Broadway, Southall by Trading Standards during their inspection for all failing to display the legally required hallmark.

With one piece of gold found to be 18-carat, not the 22-carat claimed, according to the London Assay Office.

Mr Atif Waseem of Shamail Gold Limited trading as Waseem Jewellers, pleaded guilty to all 19 charges under the Hallmarking Act 1973 and one charge under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in November.

Mr Waseem's shop was selected as part of a Trading Standards investigation into the levels of legal compliance within the jewellery industry in Ealing.

The Hallmarking Act 1973 states that it is an offence for a trader to display for sale non-hallmarked gold or apply the description of gold, silver, platinum or palladium to an item if the description is not true.

Mr Waseem was fined £3,500 for all charges and ordered to pay costs of £3,882 and a victim surcharge of £181 (total £7,563).

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, portfolio holder for decent living incomes said: "This is a case where products advertised for sale were not as described, which could have misled customers into buying these items.

"Hallmarking gives customers confidence when buying items of jewellery and precious metals that the items they are receiving are genuine.

"Our Trading Standards team will continue to monitor, support and inspect businesses throughout the borough, ensuring a level playing field for consumers and businesses alike.

"Enforcement action may be taken against those that fail to comply with their legal obligations."