EARLIER this week, talking children’s toy My Pal Violet was accused of teaching kids to swear.

But now one Carterton couple have said the cuddly purple dog has been responsible for a few marital problems too.

We reported on Wednesday that Banbury mum Leigh McPearson was disgusted to hear the toy apparently sing “if you’re happy and you know if f*** with me” to four-month-old daughter Mia Halligan.

Now Elizabeth Wells, 25, has recalled how two-year-old daughter Grace blurted out the four-letter and how she at first blamed husband John, 30.

The Bovington Road resident said: “She just stood up and announced the ‘f’ word, right in front of my hairdresser and my sister. I was so embarrassed and told her she shouldn’t say such a naughty word.”

There was only one place Mrs Wells thought Grace could have learned the word – so she went home and blamed husband John, 30, a Lead Airman on HMS Ark Royal.

She said: “We had a big argument about it. I never swear in front of the kids, so it had to be him. But he insisted it wasn’t.”

It was only when the Banbury story hit headlines that she found out the truth. She said: “I ran upstairs and listened to the toy and just said ‘oh my Lord’.”

Eight-month-old son Ellis had also received one of the £22 toys. Both have now been confiscated by Mrs Wells.

She said: “They were quite upset because Grace has got quite attached to hers and sits and sings with it, but they had to be taken off them.

“We made it a rule never to swear in front of the children, and so I was pretty mortified when this happened.

“I’ve apologised to John for blaming him. We’ll be a bit more cautious about buying talking toys now.”

Husband John added: “At least I’m in the clear.”

A LeapFrog spokesman apologised for the incident and the company have offered to replace the toys, which are supposed to say ‘bark’.

She said: “We take the utmost care to ensure that the recordings are conducted accurately but sometimes people may misinterpret those recordings, as in this case.

“We take these issues very seriously and have already reviewed our recording process.”

Does your child’s toy swear? Call us on 01865 425500 or email news@oxfordmail.co.uk