Argos is recalling five Mamas & Papas car seat models for children over safety fears.
The retailer has told parents to stop putting their children in the seats “immediately”.
The models being recalled are Mamas & Papas Mercury Group 1 Black, Mercury Group 1 Grey, Mercury Group 1-2-3 Black, Mercury Group 1, 2, 3 Grey, Mercury Group 2-3 Black and Grey.
The models are made by Mamas & Papas solely for Argos.
The affected models may not be effective in protecting children in the event of a crash, with the shells of the seats cracking upon impact.
Jim Holder, editorial director at Haymarket Automotive – publisher of WhatCar and AutoCar magazines, was quoted by the BBC as saying that the child seats were like crash helmets, “once it’s damaged… the integrity of that seat is pretty much finished, so any slight damage is to be avoided”.
Mamas & Papas said in a statement: “We continue to work closely with Argos to determine the exact nature of the issue.
“All Mamas & Papas car seats are tested, certified and approved under the European regulations R44/04 by independent accredited bodies.”
Argos said: “We have identified a potential safety concern.
“In the event of an accident the car seat shell may crack and therefore not provide the intended level of protection to the user.”
The retailer added that any customers who had bought one of the seats “should immediately stop using the product” and return it to their local Argos store for a full refund.
“We wish to thank you for your co-operation and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this recall.”
