By BEN Reporter A TOY umbrella bought for a seven-year-old Bolton girl could have injured any child who was trying to open it, the town's magistrates were told.

Hayley Bowes suffered facial injuries when the toy umbrella opened as she was playing with it, the court heard.

Mr Neil Pilkington, prosecuting for Bolton Council, told Bolton magistrates that Mrs Lorraine Bowes, of Yewdale Gardens, Breightmet, bought the 99p umbrella for her daughter from a bargain store in Farnworth, in August 1994.

Mr Pilkington said Hayley was struggling to close the umbrella when it suddenly re-opened.

He demonstrated the umbrella in court. The toy shot open when he pushed a button.

Mr Pilkington said that a number of the toy umbrellas were then bought by Trading Standards officers and tests revealed that they had sharp ends and on one the plastic top was easily detachable.

The supplier, Davies Products (Liverpool) Limited, which had imported the goods from Hong Kong pleaded guilty to an offence under the Toy Safety Regulations.

The magistrates were told that the company had been in existence since 1947 and imported goods from the Far East and Eastern block countries which were supplied to major retailers all over the country.

Davies Products was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £900 costs.

Speaking today Mrs Bowes said Hayley, now aged eight, a pupil at Christ Church in Harwood, nearly lost an eye when the umbrella suddenly sprang open.

"She escaped with a few scratches. If it had been a millimetre the other way I dread to think what could have happened.

Mrs Bowes said she was pleased that the firm had been prosecuted but added: "I don't think the fine was enough. It should have cost them a lot more."

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