St Helens Trading Standards safety warning over toys
More than 700 toys have been seized from temporary pitches in St Helens by trading standards officers due to safety fears.
The toys were removed from sale as they did not display the correct safety information on the packaging.
Trading standards officers were concerned they could potentially be harmful to children. Shoppers have been advised to use established retailers.
Illegal copies of several brand names were also seized.
'Never a bargain'
Alison Bacon, cabinet member for environmental protection said: "We became concerned when our trading standards team found the toys and their packaging did not display the important safety information required by law.
"Clearly we need to be sure that toys are safe and trading standards have removed the toys from sale while they make further inquiries.
"I'd advise anyone buying toys for children this Christmas to buy only from reputable, established retailers - who you can go back to or contact if you have any problems.
"As is often the case, the toys seized were being sold at similar prices to the genuine, safety-tested ones - so could never be considered a bargain."