SUPERMARKET Asda has stacked its shelves with thousands of pounds worth of cut-price designer perfume pre-empting a European Court ruling due today (Tuesday).

It means Christmas shoppers can stock up on their favourite scents and aftershaves before the courts decide whether cut price goods can be sold without the makers' permission.

Under current European Union trade laws, retailers have not normally been allowed to import goods from non-EU countries without permission from the manufacturers.

But there has been uncertainty over the issue and a full ruling is expected today in a test case between Tesco and Levi's.

Tesco will flood its stores with cut-price jeans if the court backs it, but Asda decided at the weekend that it would not wait.

That means that Asda outlets opening for business yesterday including the West Swindon store were selling lines of cheaper designer goods from the so-called 'grey market'.

That includes perfumes from big names such as Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein.

Other bigger stores also stocked lines of clothing, watches, champagne and designer frames, all up to 50 per cent cheaper.

The supermarket chain is owned by American giant Wal-Mart, which is due to open its biggest UK store in North Swindon next Monday.

The store is expected to carry all the discounted lines apart from jewellery, which will follow next year.

Store manager Mark Pollard collected the keys earlier this month and is busy training staff and filling the shelves in time for the grand opening.