BUBBLE-GUM chewer Matthew Chambers had a nasty surprise when he bit into a piece of bubbly - and was stabbed in the mouth by a hook.

Matthew, nine, who lives in Marston, Oxford, bought the 5p Bubbaloo from Marston Road post office and popped it into his mouth.

No sooner had he started chewing, he felt a sharp pain, and pulled out the hook.

Now his mum, Wendy, 33, is warning other youngsters to steer clear of the sweets and is demanding an explanation from the sweet's makers Warner Lambert Confectionary of Hampshire

"Matthew was chewing away and felt this sharp prick in his mouth. It actually cut him," she said:

"He was shocked and there were a few tears but he's OK. I'm absolutely fuming though because it could have got stuck in his throat. I know it's bubble gum but he swallows most things and it could have been really nasty. I'm worried now that it could happen to somebody else. Loads of kids get their sweets from the post office and one of them could choke if there are other bubble guns with bits in them." Manager of the post office, Mrs Johel, said: "We buy them from the manufacturers in good faith. We will be taking these off the shelves and getting in touch with the manufacturers."

The firm said it would look into the matter straight away, adding: "This is something we would be very concerned about. We will be asking the customer to send us the item and the wrapper to us straight away.

"There is always a possibility of something like this happening although I have never heard of it before.

"If we get the wrapper back we will be able to find out when and where it was made and also look at the metal to see if it is part of our production process.

"This could have happened during production or even after the bubble gum left the factory."

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