Watchdogs have issued a safety warning after seizing around 700 Christmas toys from town centre street sellers.
Trading standards officers in St Helens revealed the toys, which had a combined retail value of more than £2,500, were removed from sale amid concerns that they did not comply with safety legislation and could be potentially harmful to children. They were taken from traders who tend to set up pitches on street corners. St Helens Council added that many of the items seized appeared to be illegal copies of popular brands - based on characters from Ben 10, Toy Story and Nintendo.
Councillor Alison Bacon 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. I would 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 being seized were being sold at similar prices to the genuine, safety-tested ones, so could never be considered a bargain."
