Hundreds of potentially unsafe children's toys have been removed from shops in North Somerset.
More than 300 "squishy" toys, popular with younger children and often shaped like food items, were among those removed by Trading Standards officers during inspections across the area.
Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council's cabinet member for regulatory services, sports, and the Pride in Place programme, said: "Counterfeit and non-compliant toys are not just illegal, they can be dangerous.
"Parents and carers should be particularly cautious when buying toys from unfamiliar sellers or products that appear unusually cheap.
"Toys sold in the UK must meet strict safety requirements designed to protect children.
"Our Trading Standards team will continue to work with businesses to remove unsafe products from sale and help ensure consumers can shop with confidence."
Read next
A total of 26 different types of squishy toys were removed during the operation.
Many lacked required CE or UKCA safety markings and were judged to be of poor quality.
Others featured well-known brand names and trademarks, but retailers could not prove they were authorised to use them.
In addition to the squishy toys, officers removed more than 750 other non-compliant toys and more than 230 cosmetic products with incorrect labelling.
Children’s clothing with loose hood cords, banned under safety regulations due to the risk of strangulation, was also taken off sale.
The council warned that counterfeit goods often bypass important safety checks, infringe intellectual property rights, and can undermine legitimate businesses.
Cllr Clayton added: "We are committed to protecting residents in our communities – especially children – from unsafe products.
"I encourage anyone who suspects that a product may be unsafe or counterfeit to report it immediately."
He also reminded shoppers to be wary of unfamiliar sellers and items priced unusually low, as these could be signs of non-compliant or fake goods.
Residents concerned about unsafe or counterfeit products can contact Citizens Advice through its consumer helpline or online reporting service.
