Czech forest fruits and mushrooms to the value of 3.3 billion koruny (£75m) were harvested last year.

The fruit, according to the state-run forest authorities, is mainly sold on the side of the road or in open air markets, with majority of the vendors acting without licences.

According to reports, the law is considered ambiguous and the origin of the fruit is difficult to prove.

Pickers do not have to pay taxes since income of up to CZK20,000 is tax exempt, however some pickers can earn several thousand crowns a year.

Meanwhile, Miroslav Smotlacha, executive of the Czech Mycological Society, said up to seven million Czechs go mushrooming at least once a year. The Czech population is slightly over 10 million.

People pick mushrooms worth over CZK 0.5 billion in Czech forests every year, Smotlacha told the paper.