Fireball fears over fake lighters

This safety notice has been issued by the company

A warning has been issued about fake lighters which could send a ball of flaming gas into users' faces.

The mechanism which controls the flame on the counterfeit Clipper lighters does not work properly.

Trading standards officers said it was feared thousands of the faulty products had been sold in Dundee and Glasgow.

The refill stopper can be removed from the genuine lighters and shop owners and customers have been asked to check "as a matter of urgency".

The fakes are understood to come from China and trading standards officers were alerted to the problem by a customer who had bought one.

Very dangerous

A spokesman said: "These lighters are potentially very dangerous and must be cleared from city shops as soon as possible before someone is seriously hurt.

"We are asking every shopkeeper to check their shelves to make sure that the lighters they are selling are not imitations.

"Anyone who has bought a Clipper lighter in the past few weeks should also check it as a matter of urgency to ensure it's the real thing."

Spanish firm Flamagas, which produces the genuine refillable Clipper lighters, has said it is aware of the problem.