BBC Breakfast issued a warning to parents and viewers ahead of Halloween on Friday's show. Presenter Naga Munchetty issued a stark warning, pointing out: "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 featured a shocking segment that revealed alarming government research indicating 80% of costumes bought from various online marketplaces do not meet basic safety standards.
In collaboration with Yorkshire Fire Service, a firefighter demonstrated the significant differences in flammability between high street and online costumes. The firefighter noted that costumes from UK high streets, including those from supermarkets, come with safety labels, while those from online marketplaces often lack any labelling or indication of safety standards. When attempting to ignite high street Halloween costumes, the firefighter showed that due to their fire-retardant properties, they barely catch fire and tend to self-extinguish, reports the Mirror .
In stark contrast, costumes from online marketplace sellers caught fire rapidly and continued to burn, highlighting a grave difference from their high street counterparts. One particular online costume ignited extremely quickly, leading the firefighter to remark on its rapid combustion and the unpleasant odour produced as the flames consumed the material. Parents have been urged to opt for trusted brands and purchase costumes directly from off.