A toddler was almost strangled by a deadly teddy bear – which trading standards last night described as one of the most dangerous toys they have ever seen.
The three-year-old from Elgin was playing with the teddy in her cot when she became entangled in electrical wire.
Her mother discovered just in time that she had managed to pull out the flashing lights by unzipping the back of the toy, getting about six feet of cable wrapped round her neck.
Stuffing also come out the bear, which could have resulted in the tot choking.
Fortunately the young girl was uninjured in the incident – but the near-miss prompted her parents to take the bear, and another toy, to Moray Council’s trading standards team.
They are now investigating, but have already said they were the “worst example” of dangerous toys they had ever seen.
The soft pink and white bears, emblazoned with a slogan saying “I love you” and pictures of ladybirds, flash in multiple colours from the cable inside, which resembles those wrapped round Christmas trees.
Yesterday, trading standards officer David Owen highlighted three potentially lethal dangers as he examined the bears – bought from an online site which allows independent traders to sell goods globally in the marketplace.
He said: “There is the strangulation risk, a choke-hazard from the stuffing and a potential electrical risk too – one of the wires has started to come away. That’s just as far as we can see.
“There could also be a flammable risk or other things that aren’t immediately obvious. Everything that could possibly be wrong with the teddy bears is wrong with them – they’re as bad an example as we have seen.
“Whoever has manufactured these could have made hundreds or thousands. We just don’t know.”
Small parts, including the eyes and nose, were found to be another choking hazard with no protection in place to stop them falling out.
The goods were bought from American retailer www.wish.com – the website allows independent traders to sell goods globally in a marketplace.
Officers are now investigating to establish what country the teddy bears were sent from so the seller can be traced.
Moray Council’s trading standards manager Peter Adamson added: “Protecting children from dangerous toys is one of our highest priorities and it was shocking when these teddy bears were brought to our notice.
“It would appear that because the toys were bought direct online, they had evaded all of the normal checks that would normally take place when goods are imported into the EU and UK.
“Fortunately, in this instance no harm came to the child but we need to warn potential purchasers of the risks they take when buying toys for young children from suppliers who cut corners.”
Trading standards officers have recommended shoppers look for the CE tag on toys and check the retailer they are dealing with is in the EU so they are covered by safety legislation.
Anyone who needs advice about concerns with merchandise should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0345 404 0506.
