Police have told more than 600 car owners to get their vehicles checked following an investigation into alleged fake airbags.

Detectives believe half-price devices, which "would not deploy as genuine" ones would, have been sold on eBay.

Fake airbags mean a "clear danger to the public", said the City Of London force.

It said at least 100 suspected counterfeit airbags had been seized in Dorset.

The investigation began last month after the Intellectual Property Office and Honda Motor Europe found fake airbags on the site.

They had been on sale since September 2013 for about £170 - half the price of a genuine airbag, according to officers.
Items seized

Police say over 100 suspected counterfeit airbags were seized

The alert comes as a 34-year-old man was arrested in Blandford Forum, Dorset, on suspicion of counterfeiting and money laundering offenses.

Police said officers had searched an address in Poole and seized about 100 suspected counterfeit airbags, a large quantity of airbag components, financial documents and computers.

Staff from the Ministry of Defense were also called out as a precaution because of the explosives in the airbags.

Officers have urged 680 individuals and small and medium-sized businesses to contact their local dealership immediately to arrange checks.

It is believed 148 of those consumers purchased suspected counterfeit Honda CRV and Accord airbags.

Officers are currently establishing if the remaining 532 purchases concern other counterfeit manufacturer car parts.

All 680 have "been advised to make contact with their local dealership immediately so that their vehicle receives the necessary checks to ensure it is safe".