TRADING standards officers in the North-East have welcomed the news that a controversial toy which can cause strangulation has been banned.

Officers in the region have warned parents of the dangers of Yo-Balls - fluid-filled coloured plastic balls on rubber strings - for the past few months.

They said there was a risk youngsters could be strangled if the string became wrapped around their necks.

Their concerns were realised yesterday when the Department of Trade and Industry banned the sale of the toy with immediate effect after tests showed it could cause strangulation.

The ball also failed to meet the safety regulations.

Consumer affairs minister Melanie Johnson said: "It is clear this toy poses a very serious risk to children, and in light of the findings of our safety tests, I am banning their supply."

Earlier this year, Trading Standards officers at Hartlepool Borough Council warned parents to be vigilant after complaints.

In each case, a child had swung the ball around their head, the elastic string had wrapped around the child's neck, and the child had started to choke.

As the string was under tension, the children could not remove them, and adults had to come to their aid. Fortunately no-one was hurt.

Ian Harrison, from Hartlepool Trading Standards, said: "We are absolutely delighted the toy has been banned. We had been concerned about it for some time, as had officers around the region.

"We had been to traders to tell them we believed the toy to be dangerous, and, to the best of our knowledge, you can no longer buy them in Hartlepool.

"However, the fact that they have been banned means we can take formal action against anyone who is caught selling them."

Mr Harrison also urged parents who may have bought one of the toys to throw them away.

He said: "My advice would be to throw away the toys. They have been found to be dangerous and may cause strangulation.

"For the sake of a couple of pounds, it is not worth that risk."