ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A fancy dress shop and its owner have been ordered to pay almost £10,000 after selling flammable counterfeit costumes for children.

Farid Ayubi, 36, owner of Euro Accessories UK, was prosecuted after an investigation by Brent council found knock-off Batman, Spider-Man and Superman outfits on sale.

The probe was sparked by a disgruntled customer tipping off the borough’s Trading Standards team who visited the business’s Acton warehouse. The company also has premises in Whitechapel and Soho.

Tests found the £9.99 costumes did not meet basic safety standards for flammability and posed a strangulation risk. The costumes are classed as toys and must meet stringent safety checks.

Mr Ayubi pleaded guilty to selling unsafe children’s fancy dress costumes. He was sentenced last month at Willesden magistrates’ court, where he was fined £500. The company admitted selling counterfeit goods.

Euro Accessories (UK) Limited of Acton Lane, Harlesden, was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,666 in costs.

The council crackdown follows several incidents involving children’s costumes catching fire, leaving youngsters with serious injuries.

In 2014 Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman’s daughter suffered severe leg burns after her witch costume caught fire while she was trick-or-treating.

Brent council leader Muhammed Butt said he hoped the “hefty” fine would deter other firms from selling unsafe or fake goods. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen stories of kids suffering horrendous burns because their fancy dress fails to meet basic standards,” he said.

“Cheap imported costumes might look like a bargain … but what they don’t list are the serious dangers that come with buying untested counterfeits.”

Mr Ayubi did not respond to requests for comment.