A LEYTON business which imported and sold teddy bears to tourists was hit with a hefty fine for posing a risk to children.

B&S Souvenir Supplies Ltd, based in Leyton Industrial Village, was fined a £12,700 after it was found the bears, dressed as police officers and guardsman, were unsafe.

The business, under director Li Young, imported toy bears from China for sale in the Westminster area for around £10 each.

But the toys relied on statements from the Chinese manufacturer that they complied with EU toy safety legislation.

Westminster Trading Standards alerted Tower Hamlets council’s Trading Standards team that a trader near the Tower of London was selling souvenir toy bears, believed to be unsafe.

A council team seized a number of toys from the souvenir business for testing.

It was then revealed the toys were not fit for sale under EU law as the eyes were inadequately anchored.

Tests had shown that plastic eyes on the bears were a choking hazard for small children as they were easily detachable.

Small parts have to be fixed to withstand a standard tension test required by European safety standards.

The toys were traced back to B&S Souvenir Supplies Ltd which said it had relied on what the Chinese manufacturer told it, that the toys met EU toy safety law.

Importers are however required to carry out safety checks on goods they import before selling anything, which the company did not do.

At Thames Magistrates Court on October 8 the company was fined £12,700 for importing toys as far back as 2014 which were unfit.

Director Li Yong Cai of Sheringham Avenue in Tower Hamlets was fined a total of £3,500.