Fake Labubu dolls that pose 'real danger' to children seized

Fake Labubu dolls have been seized amid warnings they could pose a potentially fatal choking hazard for young children.

The 100 counterfeit dolls, dubbed Lafufus, were found by Trading Standards officers during a raid of two shops in London's West End. They were on sale for around £20 at Essentials in Brewer Street, Soho, and Snack N Gifts in Oxford Street.

Most of the Chinese-manufactured items discovered had missing or non-compliant labelling. They were found to have feet that easily detached and eyes that popped out, Westminster City Council said.

The choking hazard posed to young children made them an offence under toy safety regulations, it added. Labubus are Chinese-made cheeky-looking, sharp-toothed soft toys resembling a bear, that can be fastened to bags.

They were created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, who published an illustrated book series in 2015 called The Monsters, in which the female characters are featured. Made popular by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart and promoted by celebrities across the globe, their popularity has surged, with them tipped to be a best-selling toy this Christmas.

Genuine Labubus have high-quality packaging, clean, precise detailing and consistent paintwork, official Pop Mart and Kasing Lung markings, and can retail for hundreds of pounds. The counterfeit dolls often have twisted limbs, misshapen heads or the incorrect number of teeth - genuine Labubus have nine.

Read more:What are Labubus and how did they get so popular?Labubu maker's profits soar by nearly 400% in six monthsLabubus: Choke warning over fake versions of must-have toy Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug warned: "There is a long history of counterfeiters trying to make a quick profit from the fad toy of the moment, but the Labubu fakes we found could prove a costly error. "They are badly made and, like all counterfeits, have a habit of falling to pieces quite quickly.

"However, the real danger is the fact the eyes and feet come off with little effort - if a toddler picks them up and swallows them, the results could be fatal.".