A RETAIL company has been left with a bill for more than £8,000 for selling potentially dangerous clothes for toddlers.

North Yorkshire trading standards officers investigated a store in Harrogate's Victoria Centre after a consumer complained it was selling children's coats with drawstrings through the hood, which had been banned in 1976.

TK Maxx, a company with more than 60 shops nationwide, admitted four offences at Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Derek Smith, prosecuting, told the court that the Children's Clothing (Hood Cords) Regulations were introduced after youngsters died.

Mr Smith said a number of children had been strangled by the cords, which tightened like a noose when they caught on something.

Last October, four different illegal coats were found in the store.

In mitigation, Ronald Reid said Maxx specialised in designer labels, buying from a number of sources including companies in liquidation.

Britain was the only country in the EU with regulations on hood cords, and most of the firm's stock came from member countries.

Presiding magistrate Jim Fender said the bench viewed most seriously the risk posed to children by the coats, and fined the company £2,000 on each charge, with £308 costs.