Toys R Us has recalled 27,000 Chinese-made paints and crayons from its US stores over concerns about excessive quantities of lead

Toys R Us has recalled 27,000 Chinese-made paints and crayons from its US stores after excessive quantities of lead were found in the watercolour paint and its wooden box packaging.

The toy giant and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission have both asked parents to keep the 213-item paint set away from children and immediately return it to a Toys R Us store. The Commission said no injuries have been reported. This is the latest in a series of recalls of Chinese made toy products. Manufacturer Mattel alone has recalled about 18.5 million toys this month.

The retailer bought the sets from Funtastic, a unit of a Hong Kong distribution company. However, Toys R Us has “terminated its relationship with Funtastic, effective immediately,'' according to a company statement. Toys R Us said it had sold about 8,300 of its 27,000 of the US$20 (£9.92) art kits since it started selling them in October 2006.

This is the latest in a series of recalls of Chinese made toy products. Mattel has recalled about 18.5 million toys this month.

In the UK, Hamley’s removed jewellery products from its shelves after it contained high amounts of lead. In early August Mattel recalled about 1.5 million preschool toys made by Lida Toy, a Foshan-based contract manufacturer for Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price unit.

Lead is more dangerous to children than adults because it can harm the developing brain and is capable of causing a lower IQ, learning disabilities and behavioural problems.

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