CONSUMER watchdogs are urging Leigh parents to make sure their toy story has a happy ending this Christmas.

Each year thousands of children end up in hospital with injuries from cuts to strangulation after playing with unsafe games.

In recent weeks trading standards officers have issued alerts over wooden pegs in a Noah's Ark that could cause choking, a novelty gift watch unsuitable for children under three, and a toy building truck with screw caps that come off, along with a novelty rattling teether.

By following a few simple tips parents can help to avoid the nightmare scenario.

The answer is only to buy toys with a CE logo from reputable traders, or those made by members of the British Toy and Hobby Association which carry a lion mark.

Other things to look out for include age warnings, sharp edges or loose parts, toys with loose hair or filling material, instructions especially for electrical items, lids or folding mechanisms that could trap little hands, food-like toys and cot or pram toys with long or loose strings.

Follow these guide lines from the men in the know and Christmas should remain a safe and joyous time.

The most dangerous toy I encountered as a tweenager was my cousin's new pogo stick. I jumped on in my spanking newly-drained black trollies and promptly fell off splitting them across both knees -- as well as denting my pride!

THE safety conscious EU has come up with another gem -- rocking horses musn't be more than 24 inches high.

Slap me in chains, I'm the owner of an illegal rocker.

I don't think many kids have been killed riding wooden horses over the past century. New rules are getting sillier and sillier.