A TEAM of trading standards officers from Eastern Europe have been sent to Lancashire for a training course.

Lancashire County Council said its officers were working with the team, which is responsible for consumer protection laws in Estonia.

Visitors included Anneli Aas, chief Inspector at the Estonian Board of Consumer Protection; Pritt Poschlin, an executive officer with the board; Kaimar Eilo, head of technical inspectorate and Ago Pelisaar, executive officer with the Estonian Department of Industry. The council said they wanted to learn about providing effective consumer protection services as part of their push to join the EU.

According to the LCC, the group will take back the best of the UK's fair trading and consumer protection practices and apply them for the benefit of the people of Estonia.

Council deputy leader, Doreen Pollitt, said: "We are delighted to have been selected to demonstrate our good work in protecting consumers to the Estonian government. They will be able to make informed recommendations to strengthen existing Estonian laws and how they are best enforced."