Upset: Mother Emma Hardy comforts Alfie (Picture: Ross Parry/SWNS)

Even ‘turtle power’ couldn’t help little Alfie Waine in his battle against airport security officials.

The five-year-old, on his way to see relatives in Dublin, was armed with his favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys to keep him entertained during his holiday.

But his trusty plastic sword, Donatello staff and silver light-up laser handgun, each 20cm (8in) long, were confiscated and thrown away.

Alfie’s mother, Emma Hardy, said staff at Leeds Bradford Airport told her the toys breached security regulations because they looked like real weapons. She claims she wasn’t allowed to put them in the car.


Confiscated: Alfie’s turtle toy sword (Picture: Ross Parry/SWNS)

‘It’s ridiculous,’ she said. ‘The flight is not going to be held up by a boy with a plastic sword. He was especially upset when we were told they were going in the bin.’



An airport spokesman said: ‘Anything that looks like or replicates a weapon must be confiscated.’

A spokesman for the toy manufacturer said: ‘Parents with little Ninjas that want to take their combat toys on a plane should check withthe airport before travelling.’