Parents and businesses are being warned about the dangers of cheap, unsafe toys currently flooding the UK marketplace.



The advice has been issued after trading standards officers from Barking and Dagenham Council discovered replicas of the popular soft toy Huggy Wuggy at Barking Market.



The character, who is from the hit videogame Poppy Playtime, failed essential safety requirements under the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 legislation.



This requires all toys in the UK to be labelled to include the name and address of the manufacturer or importer; feature the batch number, model or serial number of the product; display the UKCA or CE mark and include any warnings or safety advice within a technical file available to law enforcement officers.



During basic tests by trading standards officers, the arms and eyes fell apart presenting choking hazards and failing the safety standard BS EN71, which requires toys to be able to withstand a tension test for 10 seconds at a force greater than that capable of a three-year-old.



Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “We’re warning parents and businesses about these cheap toys that could put lives at risk and be a waste of money.



“These knockoffs often have poor traceability and although they might seem like a bargain, they could be potentially dangerous. Please check what you’re spending your money on is safe and fit for purpose and if you have any doubts, report them to our trading standards team.”



If anyone sees any potentially unsafe toys, contact Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.