Beware the Fuggs (That's fake Ugg boots – which may ruin your health)

• The real thing: But fake Ugg boots do not provide enough support for feet, say experts. Picture: Complimentary

Websites selling counterfeit and low-price versions of the sheepskin boots have sprung up in their thousands.

However, podiatrists and chiropodists believe the cut-price versions could be storing up problems for the people buying them.

Toe deformities, backache and hip pain are some of the problems associated with cheaper boots.

Dr Ian Drysdale, head of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, said: "Because these boots are warm and soft, young girls think they are giving their feet a break. In fact, they are literally breaking their feet.

"Their feet are sliding around inside. With each step, the force falls towards the inside of the foot and the feet splay. This flattens the arch and makes it drop.

"The result can be significant problems with the foot, the ankle, and, ultimately, the hip."

Designer Uggs, worn by celebrities including Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz, sparked a craze for the flat, furry boots.

However, not everyone can afford the far better quality top brand Ugg Australia boots, which cost up to 200. Cheaper versions can be bought online for as little as a quarter of the price.

Consultant podiatric surgeon Mike O'Neill called the trend for cheap Uggs "disastrous".

He said: "As the foot slides around, you get wear and tear on the joints on the inside of the foot. "The ankle is in the wrong position, the thigh bone also changes position, and you get an abnormal movement in the pelvis, which leads to back problems."

Experts say it can take as little as six months of persistent use to cause wear and tear damage that can be difficult to repair.

Dr Drysdale is also concerned that unsupported cheap Uggs are on sale to children whose feet are still forming.

He has also identified a shuffling style of walking used by wearers of the problem boots.

He said the lopsided, pigeon-toed way of walking was also storing up problems.

In December more than a thousand websites purporting to sell Ugg boots and other popular goods such as ghd hair straighteners and Tiffany & Co jewellery were shut down by police.

More than 400 of the removed sites were thought to be advertising the boots.

Most of the websites were registered from Asia, but had UK domain names. This meant it was impossible for victims to complain about counterfeit items or goods not received.

Over a 12-month period last year, complaints about fake Ugg boots tripled and customs officers have seized more than 20,000 pairs.

The Ugg Australia website gives guidelines on how to spot whether a pair of boots is genuine.

It advises that key signs of a fake boot are:

Sales tags hanging off the side of the boot.

Boots sold in a canvas or cloth bag.

Poor stitching.

Joins in the lining.

A crooked heel.

The company adds: "If a deal seems too good to be true, question it – it usually is.

"The only way to ensure you get the quality and durability of genuine Ugg Australia products is to go through one of our authorised retailers."

And the company added that "knock-offs" can lack the reinforced heels or insoles of their boots.