Almost 300 fake Labubu dolls seized from retailers

Nearly 300 fake Labubu dolls have been seized from retailers across Shropshire by the council's trading standards service.

The official versions of the small, elf-like soft toy, from Chinese toy maker Pop Mart, is now a viral purchase.

Shropshire Council said knock-off versions found by its officers not only breached intellectual property laws but failed safety testing.

It said the counterfeits posed serious safety risks, particularly to young children, and had been found to contain small parts posing a choking hazard, as well as, in some cases, sharp edges, loose components, and toxic materials.

"These counterfeit toys are not just illegal, they're potentially dangerous," said councillor Bernie Bentick, cabinet member for health and public protection.

"We're proud of the swift action taken by our trading standards team to remove unsafe products from sale in Shropshire.

"I urge residents to be cautious and to report any suspicious items they come across to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline."

The authority said retailers should exercise caution when sourcing the popular toys, including buying from official channels, checking for anti-counterfeit codes on packaging and avoiding bulk purchases from unknown suppliers.