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The lights, which carry the name 120 Rice Light, come in a blue and white box. The wires are either gold or green in colour.

Trading Standards Officers in Manchester examined the lights in a routine check and found they had insufficient insulation and, in some cases, bare wires which could cause a serious electric shock. Under test conditions the lights were found to fail eight separate safety requirements.

Around 5,000 of the multi-coloured lights have been imported into Britain by Amusa Ltd., a London based company. Hundreds are believed to have reached homes in Manchester.

Tom Burke, Manchester's Chief Trading Standards Officer said: " These lights have the potential to be extremely dangerous and on no account should they be used."

Trading Standards are advising members of the public who may have sets of these lights to return them to the retail outlet where they were purchased, where they will be entitled to a full refund. Retailers are advised to return any sets of the lights to the wholesale supplier.