ANYONE buying presents for children this Christmas are being warned to beware unsafe toys available online.

Trading standards officers in Darlington are backing the festive warning from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) and Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Members of the public are being urged to be cautious when purchasing toys, particularly online.

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It follows concerns raised by the BTHA in October about the safety of toys purchased through third-party sellers on online marketplaces in its ‘Still toying with children’s safety’ report.

Research show a nearly half of toys purchased through third-party sellers via online marketplaces were unsafe for children, it reported.

Out of 255 randomly selected toys tested, 88 per cent were illegal to sell in the UK and 48 per cent were unsafe.

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, Darlington Borough Council’s deputy leader said: “Our trading standards officers work hard throughout the year to protect consumers and businesses by promoting a safe, healthy and fair trading environment and providing information and advice to consumers.

“At this time of year, it’s especially important that people be on their guard so as not to be tricked into buying cheap, and not so cheap fake toys which could be dangerous.

“The team is also available to provide advice to Darlington businesses who wish to manufacture and sell toys, and can work with them to recall products, including toys, that are found to be unsafe.”

He added: “It’s also worth remembering that we have some fantastic local shops in Darlington selling a wide range of toys and other gifts, so do please support them and shop local when you can.”

The council’s trading standards team has put together a list of tips to help people stay safe.

All toys must be marked UKCA or CE to show it meets safety requirements.

People are also urged to check the age range to make sure it is suitable and not to buy fake goods, which can often be poor quality.

Electrical toys should be fitted with a three-pin UK plug or charger. They should also use chargers supplied with the toy as cheaper alternatives can be dangerous.

Button batteries should be safely secured behind a screwed-down flap.

Toy Safety:

• All toys must be ‘UKCA’ or ‘CE’ marked. This shows that the toy meets safety requirements. Don’t buy if it’s not displayed.

• Check the age range to make sure the toy is suitable for the child, in particular a toy for a child under 3 years.

• Don’t buy fake goods. They are often of poor quality, unsafe and the traders are selling illegally.

• Check for small parts, loose hair and sharp edges.

• For electrical toys, check they are fitted with a three-pin UK plug or charger.

• Use the charger supplied with the toy. Cheap fakes can be dangerous.

• Ensure any button batteries in a toy are safely behind a screwed-down flap.

Know what you are buying and who you are buying from:

• Only buy toys from recognised and trusted traders.

• Does the trader provide a postal address on their website? Is there just a PO Box number or email? Remember ‘.co.uk’ at the end of a website address does not always mean the trader is based in the UK.

• Only use websites that are secure. Look for the padlock symbol on the address bar.

• Sometimes the price of goods can often indicate that they are not genuine. If they are advertised for sale on a website at a cheaper price than they can be bought elsewhere, this should ring alarm bells – they could be fake and possibly unsafe.

• Search for online reviews, blogs and comments about the toy and the trader. These can often give an early indication of problems.

• Are there lots of spelling mistakes and poor grammar on the toy’s packaging? These are tell-tale signs of a fake, possibly unsafe toy.

• Are there poor quality pictures, dead links, spelling mistakes and poor grammar on the website? These could indicate the website is not reputable.

• Check the manufacturers’ websites for information on approved stockists.

Trading Standards needs your help to crack down on illegal trading. If you believe that any trader, whether they sell online or from a shop, is dealing in fake or potentially dangerous toys, or something you’ve bought has made you suspicious, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or you can do it online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer

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