A SPORTSWEAR company was fined £1,500 for supplying an item of children's clothing with a potentially dangerous hood cord.

Local Boy'z Group was also ordered to pay £500 costs after admitting supplying clothing in breach of safety regulations at a Sunderland sportswear shop.

Sunderland City Council's trading standards department brought the prosecution after an officer came across Diadora hooded tops contravening the Children's Clothing (Hood Cords) Regulations, on sale at the Sports Soccer, in The Bridges shopping centre, in December 2001.

Trading standards officer Tom Terrett said: "The tops, which were intended for young children, had hoods that could be secured by means of a cord drawn through the hood's material."

Under the regulations, it is unlawful to either sell or expose for sale any children's garment suitable for outside wear by a child containing this type of hood cord, if the garment has a chest measurement of 44cm or less, when laid flat, as it is considered to pose a potential strangulation hazard.

"The rules were drawn up as a direct result of a child being strangled by a hooded garment with a drawstring cord in the 1970s," said Mr Terrett.

"It's disappointing to see similar styles of children's clothing still being sold in shops 25 years after the relevant regulations were introduced.

"We hope this case will remind retailers of the importance of ensuring regulations are complied with for hooded garments for young children."

Trading standards officers warn that retailers ought to be aware of these rules when buying in stock and they are happy to advise any members of the clothing trade or the public who may have queries on the subject.