An investigation by the Nottingham Evening Post has revealed how easy it is to get fake identification cards and university degree certificates.

Consumer affairs correspondent Kevin Peachy was able to buy a fake University of Oxford history degree certificate from an American company just by surfing the Internet.

He also got student discounts at local shops after buying a fake photo ID.

During his investigation he also found registered UK passports on sale for £2,250 and old-style paper driving licences, complete with the DVLA watermark, for £45.

In just three weeks, Kevin searched for, ordered and received a University of Oxford 'degree certificate', costing $185 (£99).

After ordering online he got an e-mail which said: "You can show your employer and they'll never doubt that you did attend that school."

He found it was equally easy to get a student ID card using a false name.

He sent off for four cards and one was returned by a UK-based supplier.

Although it came with a disclaimer stating that it was a 'novelty item', Kevin was able to use it at a cinema, a music shop and a clothes store to get a ten per cent student discount.

Reporting his findings, Kevin said: "The name on the card was not mine, but one of my colleagues at the Evening Post.

"All the shops looked at the photo, which was of me, but none asked for another form of ID to check the details."