'Bling' baby dummies 'could kill'

Hundreds of "bling" children's dummies which are studded with small imitation gems have been seized by trading standards officers as they could cause choking in young children.

Surrey County Council is warning parents to avoid the pacifiers as well as similar bottles and beakers which were found on sale at the Epsom Derby.

As well as being a choking hazard, the small gems glued to the dummies and other products could also cover air holes preventing proper sterilisation.

The local authority has also seized hundreds of brightly coloured sunglasses which it warns could lead to long-term eye damage because they are not CE marked and do not conform to UV protection regulations.

Many of the items were found during Surrey County Council Trading Standards operations at the Epsom Derby in June which resulted in more than 2,000 fake and suspect products being seized.

Kay Hammond, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "The sad fact is these poor quality products are designed to be attractive to children which is why we're urging parents to be aware.

"They may look fun and pretty but the dummies could kill and the sunglasses could cause lasting damage to a child's precious eyesight.

"Please don't take the risk."

People buying sunglasses are advised to check for the CE mark or the British Standards kitemark showing that they conform to BS EN 1836 of 1997.