ANOTHER shipment of a skin lightening cream which can cause cancer has been seized at Tilbury Docks.

More than 100kg of the hydroquinone-containing cream, which is a carcinogen and causes visible short and long-term skin damage, was seized by Thurrock's trading standards team at the London Container Terminal following a tip-off from Borderforce.

A shipment of the product was confiscated at the docks only last month, with the council issuing a warning to traders about the penalties of being caught selling the banned substance.

Public protection spokesman Phil Smith said: "I cannot praise the team highly enough, their work in seizing these creams has undoubtedly protected the public from potential harm.

"Once the investigation is complete the seized items will be destroyed to prevent them reaching the public."

It has been illegal for anyone to sell products containing hydroquinone over the counter since 2001 and those doing so could be fined ᆪ5,000.

Customers have also been advised to check labels for their own safety to ensure a product does not contain hydroquinone.