Hundreds of unsafe toys seized

Almost 1,400 unsafe toys were seized in Lincolnshire after inspections by Trading Standards officers.

About 1,000 counterfeit items, including fake designer clothes and branded headphones were also removed from sale, the BBC reports.

Officers, who carried out 60 inspections for the toy safety project, said many items were found in seaside towns.

But they added unsafe toys could be found across Lincolnshire, in shops and markets, as well as online.

Emma Milligan, from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said some of the toys they seized had no manufacturing information.

“That means that they probably haven’t been safety tested; the fabrics or the material used could be toxic,” she said.

Some soft toys had a label with a CE mark – indicating they complied with EU standards. But Ms Milligan said the labels were fake, making it difficult for buyers.

“Look for the information about where the item was produced – there should be an address there,” she said.

“A toy for a small child should say if it is age appropriate. Some of the toys didn’t have that information.

“People should also think about the price. If the price is too good, it should really be creating a warning sign in your head.”

The Child Accident Prevention Trust has published a list of toys to be aware of, external this Christmas.

The list also warns about the dangers of round button batteries, commonly used in toys and gadgets.

Two-year-old Harper-Lee Fanthorpe died after swallowing a button battery in May 2021. An inquest found her death was caused by acid from the item burning into an artery.

Harper’s mother, Stacy Nicklin, from Stoke, is campaigning with the Child Accident Prevention Trust to raise awareness.

Ms Nicklin said: “At this time of the year, it’s hard. Christmas decorations have got button batteries in them. They’re everywhere I go.

“It’s coming up to four years since Harper passed away. I’ve got PTSD from what I had to see before she went into theatre.

“I campaign because I don’t want any other families going through what I’ve had to go through.

“I know first-hand what they can do, and the damage they can cause to not only a child. They are a risk to the elderly, people with learning disabilities and animals.”

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell them about a story you think we should be covering here, external.