Soft toys have been taken out of the waiting room in a Black Country GP surgery – amid fears children will pass on germs to other youngsters.

Other surgeries in Dudley are now being advised to do the same. The toy box “soft toys” has been removed from Lower Gornal Health Centre.

A notice on the wall simply reads: “The toy box has been removed for health and safety reasons”.

The Express & Star can reveal it is on the advice of Dudley Primary Care Trust.

PCT spokeswoman Laura Broster confirmed the toys had been removed for “infection control purposes”.

An angry parent, who did not wish to be named, contacted the Express & Star after seeing the sign.

“When you are waiting to see the doctor and your little one is upset and not well, they need a teddy bear, not a book,” said the parent.

Mrs Broster said surgeries were under no obligation to remove soft toys but were being advised to do so.

She said: “At a young age children do tend to put toys in their mouths. The danger is if they put the toy back in the box and another child picks it up, there is an obvious risk of infection.

“The Lower Gornal centre does have wipe clean toys and books. Toys have not been removed altogether.”