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Sick bomb prank deafens toddler
A toddler has been left deaf in one ear after a joke toy pushed through a letterbox exploded in her face.
Police were forced to seal off a street after the Bomb Bag, posted by pranksters, went off in the family's home.
Two-year-old Keira Tasker has been left traumatised by the incident, while mum Louise Fleetham is now calling for the bags to be banned.
The 24-year-old says the explosion has left her daughter deaf in her right ear and partially deaf in the other, and with dry skin forming on her face and hands.
The incident led police to cordon off the road and evacuate the pair as investigations were made, with firefighters also called to carry out checks.
Police have referred the incident to Trading Standards, while Louise has been visiting shops in the town to urge them not to sell the items.
Bomb Bags can cost as little as 40p and feature images of soldiers, tanks and bombs on the packet.
Louise, who had been washing dishes when Keira walked into their kitchen with the small foil sachet, said: "I turned round to see what the dog was barking at and saw her with the bag.
"It was just expanding and then it went off and exploded straight in her face and all hell broke lose.
"My ears are still ringing. I had no idea what it was.
"The thing which makes me sick is it's something that is being advertised as a children's joke toy.
"The fact is somebody is buying these for a few pence and they can put this through a letterbox and cause a whole world of chaos.
"I want these things banned. They're marketed as a toy, but it's caused deafness in a two-year-old."
After Louise's initial contact with police, she was called back and advised to move out of the house while inquiries began.
Keira was later taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital to be checked over, with a health visitor to make a further assessment next week to see if there is any long-term damage as the toddler recovers at her home in Stanley Street, Seaham.
Upset and shaken by the attack, she remains frightened and will not leave her mother's side.
Acting Sergeant Gemma Royal, of Seaham Police, said: "It was treated as a suspicious package so we sealed off the road and removed the occupants from the house just for safety.
"We don't exactly know what substance was inside, we've not had it tested, but it's some sort of reactant which causes it to explode."
The incident happened shortly after 5pm on Tuesday and Louise believes three boys were responsible for posting the bomb bag.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0345 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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