EYESIGHT threatening laser pens have been condemned after lab tests showed nearly all samples scrutinised were unsafe.

And borough principal trading standards' officers Alan Blundell said the handful of Leigh area traders offering lasers for sale had withdrawn them from their shelves.

He said:"Our concern is irresponsible use of lasers and the wide classification tolerance."

He said traders had voluntary withdrawn the lasers from their shelves and he knew of no retailers currently offering them for sale in the borough.

A survey by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities' public protection committee on 50 laser pointers found 95 per cent were unsafe.

Regional tests had shown lasers classified as weak and safe were so powerful that exposure for less than the blink of an eye could result in serious optical damage or even blindness.

And Cllr Max Jones, AGMA public protection committee chairman, said:"The only advice we can give retailers, wholesalers and importers is to stop selling these products and return them to their suppliers. Otherwise they risk the prospect of prosecution with fines up to £5,000 or even imprisonment."

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