IKEA’S French operation was in court today as former executives, store managers and police officers face trial for an illegal spying operation that collected private information on staff and customers.

Prosecutors acting on complaints from the Force Ouvriere trade union say Ikea set up a “spying system” across France, gathering information on current and prospective employees.

Former director of risk management Jean-Francois Paris has acknowledged spending €530-630,000 annually (£450-540,000) on private eyes to investigate staff between 2009 and 2012, when the scandal broke.