Fisher-Price recall highchairs and toys after US safety alert

A TOY maker has recalled hundreds of thousands of toys and high chairs sold in the UK amid safety concerns.

The announcement is part of a wider US-led recall of more than 10 million items after reports of injuries.

The UK recall applies to more than 70,000 high chairs after 14 reports of problems in the US, including seven children requiring stitches.

The UK chairs carry the names Basic Healthy Care Cow and Moon, Flutterby Dream, Aquarium Healthy Care and Link Deluxe Healthy Care.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said pegs on the back of the high chair, used to store the tray, could cause cuts if children fell on them.

A total of 72,763 of the chairs were sold in the UK between September 2001 and last month.

Another 165,090 products with inflatable balls have also been recalled here after the CPSC said the valve of the ball could come off and pose a choking hazard.

UK products affected include the Baby Playzone Crawl and Cruise Playground, Baby Playzone Crawl and Slide Arcade, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall, Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium, 1-2-3 Tetherball and the Bat and Score Goal.

A further 6,107 Little People Wheelies Stand 'n' Play Rampway toys sold between April and September this year have also been recalled after reports that the wheels on the cars could also pose a choking hazard.

A UK spokeswoman for Fisher-Price said: "We operate in a highly regulated industry and we test our products at many stages during development and production. In addition, we monitor parents' safety-related reports. If we see an issue with a product, even after many have been sold and used safely, we take appropriate action."

The company has set up a consumer helpline on 0800 0320 615.