FORMER Nelson solicitor and North West Liberal Democrat Euro MP Sajjad Karim has called for greater efforts to combat the production of toys by children.

Mr Karim has been vigorously campaigning against child labour and especially the exploitation of children in the production of toys since becoming a member of the International Trade and Human Rights committees in the European Parliament.

He spoke following International Day against Child Labour.

Mr Karim said: "I find it quite perverse that we have a system of labelling toys that recommends the age group a given product is suitable for and yet there can be no guarantees that the product itself has not been made by a child that is younger than those it is intended for.

"Retailers and importers of children's toys need to adopt an ethical approach to their purchasing strategy and only deal with manufacturers who can give an unqualified undertaking that children have not been exploited in the production of their goods.

"As a father of two young children I often find myself wondering when I buy them presents and toys if the children responsible for the production of what I am buying are even younger than my own."