Clampdown on illegal toy-sword sales

Exhibitors found selling long metal toy swords to minors at the Ani-Com and Game Fair had sheathed their swords and hidden them from sight yesterday, and were displaying prominently signs declaring that they would not sell them to under-18s.

Stallholders removed the imitation weapons from sight and ensured that any on sale were sheathed. Their action followed media reports from the fair, which began on Friday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, that swords longer than 30cm were being unlawfully offered for sale to minors.

On Friday, a stall was spotted selling swords of an illegal length to two teenagers, one of whom claimed he had not been asked for identification before buying his 40cm weapon.