Raid finds 'lethal' sofas

More than 250 "potentially lethal" sofas have been found by Trading Standards officers in a raid on a Black Country importer.

During routine inspections in Smethwick, discrepancies were found in the paperwork supplied by the Chinese manufacturer confirming that the sofas were safe.

Tests found that the sofas failed to comply with the fire safety regulations and the laboratory branded it "one of the worst failures it had ever seen". Sandwell Council chiefs today said they could not name the company involved.