Parents warned of scammers selling must-have toys

 Parents frantically trying to find must-have Christmas toys for their child have been warned of scammers peddling potentially dangerous counterfeit goods.

The scramble for the trendiest toys has caused shops to sell out, leaving parents to search online, where counterfeit traders are cashing in.

Shoppers have been advised to watch out for over-inflated prices or cheap “deals” as the Chartered Trading Standards Institute warned such “bargains” may not be all they seem.

The authority has also warned that unofficial children’s merchandise such as toys and dressing-up clothes could pose numerous hazards with small parts, long cords and toxic materials.