Experts warn that some toys sold on sites like Amazon and eBay are unsafe

One in five toys sold on sites like Amazon and eBay are dangerous for children, according to warnings from the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA).

The Association ordered 100 toys from Amazon, 50 from eBay and 50 from a another site called AliExpress.

The BTHA found that 44 toys were unsafe - for example, some had bits of plastic or stuffing that could come off easily and could be swallowed, especially by younger children.

Another 70 toys which weren't obviously dangerous, broke rules because they didn't have proper labels, didn't have an address of where the toy was made or didn't show that the toy had been tested for safety.

Now the BTHA wants the government to take action to protect children from the "threat of physical harm" by making online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay take responsibility for the toys sold by sellers on their websites.

Often these toys are much cheaper than recognised brands and come from sellers in different countries where laws are different.

One in five toys sold online are unsafe

Natasha Crookes a spokeswoman from BTHA says UK law isn't strict enough "There are gaps in the UK regulations which allow the sellers and the marketplaces to not be held to account and for unsafe toys to continue to be available to UK consumers."

Newsround contacted both Amazon and eBay for a comment on this story.

A spokesperson for Amazon said they take sellers breaking rules very seriously and that any sellers who don't follow the company's guidelines could be stopped from making money or have their account removed.

While eBay said they work closely with Trading Standards - who are experts officials who look at the quality of things you can buy - and that "The safety of customers is the company's number one priority."

Most toys are safe, but there are things you can check with your parents or an adult if you are unsure: