From toy-shaped cigarette lighters to a short-circuiting plush rabbit that catches fire, a European safety watchdog has warned of a growing number of dangerous products for sale.

The watchdog issued almost two and a half thousand notifications of unsafe products ranging from children's playthings to clothing and appliances last year.

That's three percent more than in 2013.

Sixty-four percent of the dangerous goods were made in China.

They included soft toys with stuffing that could come loose and choke a child, or those with detachable pieces that could be swallowed.