PARENTS are being urged to look out for a back-to-school stationary set, costing £1, that contains a razor-sharp craft knife.

Seven-year-old Daniel Parkinson needed four stitches to a cut finger after using the set and after his mother, Andrea, bought him the set in a £1 shop in Redcar, east Cleveland.

Trading Standards officers have visited the shop and other similar bargain-price stores, successfully asking for the sets, which were made in China, to be taken off shelves.

Jeff Bell, chief trading standards officer at Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: "The sets are not toys, although some of them have the 'not suitable for 0 to three-year-olds' warning on the packaging.

"Others are sold as office stationary sets and the design and colouring of the blister packs leaves no doubt that they are aimed at children.

"I find it hard to believe they could have got through the company's quality control systems.

"We will seize any that are not voluntarily withdrawn and consider instituting proceedings against them."

Councillor Joyce Benbow said: "This is a very worrying incident. These knives are particularly sharp and are an obvious danger to any child who might try to use them.

"We are very grateful to the mother for bringing this to our attention so quickly and must also thank shops who took the items from their shelves as soon as we alerted them."

Trading Standards officers across the area have been alerted.