Mattel is recalling 18 million toys made for the company in China. The recall includes - but is not limited to - toys in the Polly Pocket, Batman and Barbie range

The magnets on some of these toys can come loose and are easily swallowed. Once inside the stomach of a child the magnets can attach themselves to each other and cause serious perferations and infections and at least three children have had to undergo surgery to remove the magnets.

Other toys in the range have high levels of lead in the paint that covers the toys and this too can be harmful to small children