More than 1,700 'unsafe' toys seized in shop raids

More than 1,700 unsafe action figures, squishy toys and stuffed teddies have been seized from shops across North East Lincolnshire.

The council said the children's toys were removed from stores in the area after being deemed unsafe or confirmed to be fake.

Issues with the toys included missing safety marks, unsafe battery storage, poor construction or electrical wiring and choking hazards, the authority said.

James Sawkins, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC), said: "It's quite surprising just how many unsafe toys have been seized."

Several of the items seized were squishy toys, which comes after the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a national recall earlier this year for a brand of toy known as Squeezy Dumpling.

NELC said the inspections which led to the seizures took place over several weeks, with 750 toys and products seized during enforcement activity across the Cleethorpes Armed Forces weekend of 26-28 June.

NELC said the items confiscated were in breach of the Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011 which state that all toys must clearly display:

• Manufacturer information (including a registered trademark where appropriate)
• Importer information
• Product ID
• Compliance marks (including the CE mark)
• Safety warnings

Sawkins said: "If a toy is cheaper than usual, it's very likely it hasn't undergone the same safety testing that a reputable company would do on their products, to ensure they are safe for children to play with."

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