Squishy toy with a fake nail among hundreds of seized counterfeits

More than a thousand squishy toys have been seized in a month from Aberdeen shops after complaints from parents that many smelled of chemicals or leaked.

One of the confiscated toys contained a false fingernail.

Aberdeen City Council trading standards said the items were either counterfeit or had lacked required safety labelling.

The service also warned that several children in Scotland had suffered serious burns after trying to heat squishy toys in microwaves, which caused them to explode.

Trading standards manager Graeme Paton said: "It is disappointing we are still finding these potentially dangerous toys in shops and we would remind consumers and parents to be extra vigilant.

"With the school summer holidays starting, youngsters will be looking for toys to entertain them and counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain but these are potentially dangerous."

Paton also warned of a trend circulating on social media.

Videos posted online show the toys, which are soft and easy to squeeze, being heated in an attempt to make them even softer.

Paton said: "We would warn parents and children alike about the inherent dangers of microwaving these toys as they are not intended to be used this way."