Parents are being urged to take care when dressing their children up in costumes for Hallowe’en.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team and the Community Safety Partnership are warning parents to ensure flammable costume materials are kept well away from naked flames.
The flammability of costumes has featured in the media since a tragic accident involving the eight-year-old daughter of Strictly Come Dancing star Claudia Winkleman, who suffered severe burns when her costume was ignited by a pumpkin candle last Hallowe’en.
The TV star has since campaigned for stricter safety standards, and has welcomed a Government review of safety laws around fancy dress costumes, which currently classes them as toys, and not clothing which have stricter flammability standards.
Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We urge parents to take extra care when children are wearing costumes near candles and naked flames this Hallowe’en. Within the current laws, manufacturers are not obliged to include safety information on fancy dress costume labels, but I welcome news that several big retailers are carrying out their own rigorous safety tests this year.”
Cllr Pam Palmer, Chair of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, added: “The tragic accident involving Claudia Winkleman’s daughter should serve as a reminder of the dangers of flammable materials. Enjoy the celebrations, but please take care.”
- Carmarthenshire County Council supports Operation BANG (Be. A. Nice. Guy), follow #OpBANG updates on Twitter
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