Trading Standards officers seized thousands of unsafe toys during enforcement activity at this year's Appleby Horse Fair.
Westmorland and Furness Council's Trading Standards team, working in partnership with Cumbria Police and representatives from the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, carried out two days of targeted operations at the event. The coordinated activity focused on identifying and removing potentially dangerous goods from sale.
During the operation, officers inspected eight stalls and confiscated a large quantity of "squishy cheese and butter block" fidget toys — soft, slow-rising foam products that have become increasingly popular with children. Among the items seized were potentially dangerous counterfeit versions of viral toys, including squishy bun dumpling toys and NeeDoh-style fidget products.
All items seized were either lacking the required safety labelling or confirmed as counterfeit. Consequently, they are unlikely to have undergone the necessary safety testing or to meet legal standards, and may pose risks, including potential exposure to harmful chemicals.
Following the discovery of these counterfeit toys, Trading Standards is urging consumers and parents to remain vigilant. Counterfeit toys can appear to be a bargain, particularly when they are in high demand, but they may present serious safety risks.
Parents and carers are advised to buy only from reputable retailers or approved resellers, to check for proper safety markings such as the UKCA or CE mark, and to ensure products display full UK manufacturer or importer address details. Consumers should also be cautious of items with strong chemical odours, poor-quality packaging, or prices that seem unusually low.
The seizures form part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers - particularly children - from unsafe products being sold at large public events.
Catherine Hornby, Trading Standards Manager, said: "We will not hesitate to take action where traders put consumers at risk. Products designed for children must meet strict safety requirements, and we will continue to carry out enforcement activity to remove unsafe items from the market."
Police Gold Commander for Appleby Horse Fair 2026, Detective Superintendent Dan St Quintin, said, "Police and Trading Standards worked closely together during this year's Fair. Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to bring unsafe counterfeit items to sell at the event can expect to have those goods seized."
Director General of The Anti-Counterfeiting Group, Phil Lewis, said "Counterfeit toys present a particular risk because they are purchased for children, yet they bypass the rigorous safety testing and quality controls that legitimate manufacturers undertake to protect consumers. As a result, they often contain unsafe materials, present choking hazards, and fail to meet essential safety standards.
"We are grateful to Westmorland and Furness Council Trading Standards and Cumbria Police for this operation and proud to support them with removing thousands of potentially dangerous products from the market.
"Heritage fairs are important to the UK social fabric and the infiltration of criminals seeking to make profit at any cost, should not be allowed to threaten consumers and tarnish the reputation of such an historic cultural event"
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