A nationwide investigation is to take place into the safety of children's fancy dress costumes.
Trading standards officials are to carry out spot checks on costumes for sale across the UK at the request of Business Secretary Sajid Javid, alongside an assessment of whether European safety standards are tough enough.
Costumes from hundreds of fancy dress retailers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be tested for flammability to assess whether they are safe for sale and compliant with safety standards.
It comes after television presenter Claudia Winkleman raised concerns about the safety of fancy dress costumes after her daughter suffered serious burns when her Halloween outfit caught fire.
Mr Javid said: "My immediate concern as a father and a minister is that children wearing these fancy dress costumes are safe.
"It is unacceptable for any costumes to be sold that do not comply with safety standards.
"That's why I've granted funding to trading standards to carry out spot checks as part of a nationwide investigation. Parents should feel confident that any fancy dress they buy meets required standards."
Trading standards officials will report back later in the autumn.
Leon Livermore, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: "In light of the upcoming Halloween season, we welcome the Government funding for trading standards to investigate the safety of children's fancy dress costumes.
"CTSI takes issues of product safety very seriously, and hopes the evidence gathered as part of this investigation will help to establish whether the current flammability standards are still fit for purpose."
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