Sunglasses Seized in Swindon Town Centre

Dozens of pairs of trendy-looking sunglasses have been seized by Swindon Borough Council due to safety concerns.

Officers from the council’s Trading Standards team and an inSwindon warden were alerted to the glasses, which were being sold by a street trader, during a routine inspection by a member of staff.

The sunglasses were not CE marked and may not protect the wearer’s eyes. The sun’s UV radiation has been linked to the formation of cataracts and may be linked to age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in the UK.

Cllr Richard Hurley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection & StreetSmart, said: “Research from the College of Optometrists has shown that almost 80 per cent of under-25s put fashion and price before safety standards when choosing sunglasses.

“We’re urging all consumers to be aware and make sure they only buy CE marked sunglasses from reputable traders who they can return to for a refund if a problem occurs.

“It’s even more important to protect children’s eyes as they are still developing. Research has shown that 76 per cent of parents admit to not making sure their child wears sunglasses when out and about in the sun.

“It was therefore vital that we acted so quickly to remove these unsafe sunglasses from sale.”

The seller of the sunglasses, who claimed to have purchased the items from two London-based wholesalers for between £1 and £1.20 each, was selling them for £5. He is assisting Trading Standards officers with their enquiries.

For information on the importance of UV protection visit: www.lookafteryoureyes.org