More than £10,000 worth of dangerous fake toys and illegal prize giveaways were seized from rogue Hull Fair stalls following a major swoop by safety inspectors.

Councillors are, in particular, seriously concerned about counterfeit Lilo & Stitch toys which could prove to be a dangerous choking hazard for children.

Trading Standards officers from Hull City Council teamed up with food safety experts to raid stalls and, in just one night, seized more than 1,000 counterfeit items that posed serious risks to young children. The swoop followed widespread warnings across local social media groups where anxious parents shared alerts about dangerous knock-off squishy toys allegedly causing chemical burns and skin irritation.

Councillors warned that, alongside the danger from counterfeit goods, some rogue stallholders were also breaking copyright rules. Cllr Ted Dolman, portfolio holder for Public Protection at Hull City Council, explained that he understood families going home from Hull Fair with children excitedly holding a new toy in their hands was part of the experience.

Council officers are warning that many of the seized items bypassed stringent UK safety standards and could potentially cause serious harm to children

placeholder image — Council officers are warning that many of the seized items bypassed stringent UK safety standards and could potentially cause serious harm to children

But he warned many of the seized items from this year’s fair bypassed stringent UK safety standards and could cause serious harm to children. “The toys and prizes from the fair are part of the whole experience. We all know the feeling of heading back home with the cuddly toy you won on Hook-a-Duck, sweets and brandy snaps, and something that lights up and flashes,” Cllr Dolman said.

“The role of the Trading Standards team is to make sure those items you’re treating your family to are safe. In addition to infringing intellectual copyright, unfortunately those items our team seized are not safe. The suspected counterfeit squishy toys are of particular concern because there is no evidence that they have been manufactured or tested to the stringent safety standards required for toys sold in the UK.”

Among the haul were fake versions of popular squishy sensory toys – sometimes known as a NeeDoh brand. Many counterfeit plush toys – routinely carried home as prizes from games like Hook-a-Duck – were also flagged as being of particular concern.

Officials added that poorly stitched knock-off Disney toys present an immediate choke hazard for toddlers and warned parents to get in touch if their children had them at home.

“There were also significant concerns about the Lilo & Stitch toys,” Cllr Dolman warned. “Many of these were poorly made, with the filling material exposed or easily accessible. Bearing in mind soft toys will often be given to very young children, this poses a choking or asphyxiation risk if the filling comes out and gets in a child’s mouth.”

More than half a million people visited Walton Street to enjoy Hull Fair between Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 17. Council bosses confirmed that the vast majority of fairground stalls were operating legally with safe goods, and that targeted sweeps ensure families enjoy the annual spectacle with complete peace of mind.

Hull Trading Standards works alongside Humberside Police and brand copyright holders to track illegal supply chains. Anyone with any concerns about potentially dodgy or counterfeit items from Hull Fair can contact Hull City Council on 01482 300 300 or email [email protected]