BBC Breakfast sounded the alarm bell loud and clear to viewers on Friday’s show ahead of Halloween.
Presenter Naga Munchetty cautioned parents with the words: “It’s less than a week until Halloween and parents are being warned that some fancy dress costumes could pose a serious risk to children.”
The programme then aired a segment that laid bare recent government findings which showed a haunting 80% of costumes from online marketplaces didn’t meet simple safety tests.
READ MORE: BBC Breakfast star reveals how he can tell if Naga Munchetty is in a ‘naughty mood’
Click for more brilliant Daily Star showbiz stories
Teaming up with Yorkshire Fire Service, they demonstrated how quickly those web-sourced outfits can become a nightmare. A firefighter highlighted that UK high street and supermarket costumes boast safety tags, whilst gear from online sellers often lacks any and can be flame magnets.
(Image: BBC)
They tried to set shop getups on fire only to see them self-extinguish due to their fire-resistant nature. But, when the same match was put to online buys, they lit up like a bonfire, with one catching alight so fast, that it left a vile stench as the costume melted away.
Parents have been urged to stick to trusted brands and purchase Halloween costumes directly from official websites rather than marketplaces. A firefighter highlighted the risks, noting that even if some online buys don’t ignite, it’s still a risky bet and advised to always keep children away from open flames when in costume, reports the Mirror
.
Naga, 49, the show’s host, commented on the segment: “It’s really frightening when you see those images and you see what those costumes [do].”
The discussion comes years after a traumatic incident involving ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ presenter Claudia Winkleman, who has shunned full Halloween attire since 2014. That year, her daughter Matilda, then eight, suffered severe burns when her costume caught fire after brushing against a candle while trick-or-treating.
The accident caused significant injuries to Matilda’s legs and also left their neighbour with second-degree burns as they tried to extinguish the blaze. Following the horrific event, Claudia took a brief hiatus from her ‘Strictly’ role to support her family through the recovery process.
For Claudia, Halloween is now a holiday marred by painful memories. She opened up about her distress to The Mail, saying: “I don’t like Halloween because [a few] years ago it turned out our screams were real. She ‘went up’ is the only way I can describe it – it was a spark, and she screamed out for me.”
Sharing more details of the harrowing incident, she said: “It was like those horrific birthday candles that you blow out and they come back. It was really fast. It was definitely life-changing for me.”
In the wake of the frightening experience, Claudia successfully campaigned to increase the safety of children’s fancy dress costumes.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
