Wiltshire Trading Standards have confiscated a series of furry children’s hats, which they say could pose a strangulation risk.

The colourful hats are made in China, and designed to look like the Minions from the animated Despicable Me films, or characters from mobile game Angry Birds.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “There is an extension hanging down each side of the hat with a pom-pom on the end, and the hat is intended to be secured underneath the chin by passing one hanging extension through a loop in the other.

“However this design means that there is no means for the extensions to disconnect and there is the potential for strangulation.”

Trading standards officers have notified market operators throughout Wiltshire and visits have been made to ensure that any of these items are removed from sale, with 40 hats priced between £5 and £10 seized from stalls in Trowbridge and Salisbury so far.

Anyone who may have purchased one of the offending hats is urged to report it to trading standards on 0845 4040506 as soon as possible.