Toy firm Mattel has recalled nearly two million toys sold in the Britain and Ireland due to potential health hazards from small magnets and lead paint.
The products include about Polly Pocket, Batman, Barbie, Doggie Daycare and Shonen Jump's One Piece play sets over fears their magnets may come loose.
A total of 18.2 million of these toys are being recalled worldwide, of which up to 1.9 million may be for sale in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
There have been no reported injuries as a result of the manufacturing problems, a UK spokeswoman for Mattel said.
In total, the magnet-related recall affects 69 different products. All of the recalled products were made between January 2002 and January 31st, 2007,
The die-cast toy Cars character Sarge is being recalled following Mattel's ongoing investigation into paint used on Fisher-Price toys by a Chinese firm.
Sarge toys made between May and July 2007 were found to have "impermissible levels of lead", Mattel said today. Lead can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and headaches in children. In very large quantities, it can result in death.
The firm is recalling 436,000 of the toy cars globally, of which 253,000 are in the US and 49,000 are in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Today's recall comes two weeks after Mattel recalled 22,270 Fisher-Price toys from Ireland amid concerns about lead in their paint. The toys were mainly from the Dora the Explorer, Diego and Lazy Town toy ranges.
The firm's senior vice president of worldwide quality assurance, Jim Walter, said: "We are exercising caution and have expanded the list of recalled magnetic toys due to potential safety risks associated with toys that might have loose magnets."
Mattel is warning consumers to take the affected products away from children immediately and to get in touch for a refund or replacement.
The recall was announced in the US by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), whose acting chairwoman Nancy Nord told a news conference: "The scope of these recalls is intentionally large to prevent any injuries from occurring."
Today's announcement is the latest in a string of product recalls relating to goods made in China.
Customers in the UK and Ireland should contact Mattel's helpline on 01628 500 303 or email HelplineUK mattel.com or visit the company's UK website at www.service.mattel.com/uk/.