The BBC is reporting that ‘hundreds of thousands’ of unsafe AC power adaptors from China are currently for sale on the UK High Street, with versions labelled for the DS, DS Lite and Game Boy highlighted as one of the worst offenders.

Trading Standards has stated that tests have shown the devices, which retail for around £5, are liable to overheating and even electrocution thanks to exposed wires and pins that do not fit correctly into UK plug sockets.

Retailers can identify the offending products by the product code DE62347066 or the generic description ‘Travel Charger’, though some faulty units carry no code. Many also carry a fake version of the European CE safety mark. The units have been made available through a number of distributors.

Buckinghamshire County Council’s senior trading standards officer Chris Holden said of the problem: "The UK appears to be flooded with them. It probably runs into hundreds of thousands or even millions.”

Retailers or consumers concerned that they may in possession of an unsafe charger are urged to contact their local Trading Standards office. The offical TS press release can be seen here.

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