A PRESTON discount store has been fined for selling dangerous Christmas stockings.

What Everyone Wants Ltd has been fined £2,700 after Trading Standards officers found the unsafe goods at its Preston branch in Market Street.

Preston magistrates were told that officers had carried out a routine test purchase of the stockings at the store in November and December 2000.

But when the stockings were tested, one of the designs, in the shape of a reindeer's head, was found to be unsafe -- because the eyes could become detached, causing a choking hazard for young children.

The court heard that the importer of the £1.99 stockings was now in liquidation but that What Everyone Wants, which has 130 branches throughout the UK, should also share responsibility because it had not taken enough steps to ensure that the product was safe to sell.

Pleading guilty, the company said it has a good record in terms of safety but as a result of this incident, its procedures have now been strengthened even further.

The company was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £193.

David Kaye, company secretary for the firm, said: "What Everyone Wants treats the health and safety of its customers most seriously, and is seriously concerned about any products that do not meet the companies high standards.

"The company intends to pursue the case with the suppliers of the product."