Matalan recalls mermaid, shark and unicorn hot water bottles over safety fears
MATALAN is recalling a range of hot water bottles over safety and quality fears.
The bottles come in the shape of unicorns, sharks, mermaids or feature different letters of the alphabet.
The retailer said it's urgently recalling the products because they don't meet their "high standards for quality and safety".
It told The Sun that the recall has been issued as a "precaution", although random testing found problems with a few of the bottles.
Matalan has so far refused to clarify what the issue is, but in 2015 a customer reported that her hot water bottle from the retailer burst.
If you've bought any of the products, Matalan is warning customers not to use them.
It added that if you bought it for someone else or know someone who has one then you should let them know "immediately" about the recall too.
Your product recall rights
PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item.
Instead, you should return it to your nearest Matalan store where you'll be given a full refund.
You don't need to have the receipt to get your money back.
Matalan has roughly 230 stores across the UK. You can find your nearest one using .
The products were sold between September 1 and November 19 and cost £8 each.
Matalan hasn't said how many of the items it's sold. We'll update this article if we hear back.
If you have any queries about the recall, you can contact Matalan's customer service by calling 0333 0044444 or sending an email to [email protected].
A statement on Matalan's website said: "We pride ourselves on delivering great quality at great prices and we're really sorry for any inconvenience caused."
Most read in money
Matalan has also just launched a recall for Frozen jumpers due to fears toddlers could choke on parts of them.
While last year, Matalan recalled kids' hat and mittens due to fears they could cause a choking hazard for children.
The retailer's also been forced to recall hundreds of cushions over fears they are a fire risk.