People are being reminded to check toys are safe for children this Christmas.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are encouraging parents and carers to look at the safety standard symbols on packaging.

It comes following news of dangerous fidget toy advent calendars being sold in Scotland.

Trading Standards officers at North Lanarkshire Council rasied the alarm there after tests showed its contents were harmful.

Excessive amounts of a chemical used in manufacturing to soften plastic which can cause possible damage to a child’s reproductive system were found in the toys.

As well as containing high levels of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the product did not carry the name of the manufacturer or importers’ details.

The OFT has therefore asked customers to pay close attention to any age limits and to check if they are suitable.

There are several symbols which indicate that products meet applicable EU or UK legislation or standards, whether the manufacturer is a member of the British Toy and Hobby Association (Lion Mark), and the age suitability of toys due to hazards such as small parts.

Items with these symbols follow safety guidelines, and the materials and manufacturing processes used will be of the highest standard.

Care should be taken to avoid counterfeit toys, as these are frequently made without adhering to those strict safety standards.

Callum Hussey, assistant trading standards officer, said: ’We understand that Christmas can be a difficult time financially for families, however it’s important to ensure that if we’re buying cheaper versions of well-known products that they also have the same safety guarantees - and do not contain any harmful materials or dangerous parts.

’We want everybody to have a good Christmas, so taking care and checking for these symbols should give people confidence and prevent nasty surprises.

’There are clues that may help in identifying counterfeit items - the instructions that come with these toys are often poorly written and make no sense, sometimes the contents do not match the detail given on the packaging, and if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.’

Any traders who have sold the affected advent calendar, or consumers who have concerns about any products should contact the Office of Fair Trading on 686500 or email [email protected].