Britain warns of a toy that threatens children's lives

British doctors have issued a warning about small beads, which can expand up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid, amid reports linking them to serious harm and deaths among children.

Water beads are used for a variety of purposes, including as toys, in crafts, as home decorations or in flower arrangements, and are particularly popular at Christmas.

Digestive tract blockage

The beads are sold under a variety of names, including jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads and water crystals.

If swallowed, the water beads expand and can block the digestive tract, which may require surgery.

Serious safety warning

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has issued a "safety warning" about water beads, and has banned them from being given to children during the festive period.

The British Product Safety and Standards Office warned against buying it for children under the age of five, as its danger lies in its rapid growth, starting at a size of no more than millimeters, and growing to 400 times its size in about 36 hours, when exposed to liquid.