Tesco to launch inquiry after sewing machine tip found in seam of new jogging bottoms

A Baby was hurt by part of a needle concealed in the seam of a newpair of trousers her parents bought from a supermarket giant.

Eleanor Bailey was unable to tell her parents Steve and Tina thather lower leg was being scratched.

The couple only realised something was wrong when they undressedtheir daughter to go to bed later that night.

She had worn the pink jogging bottoms - bought a few weeks earlierin Tesco - nearly all day.

Mechanical engineer Mr Bailey and his partner Tina were horrifiedwhen they discovered the tip of a needle stuck in the seam of thetrouser leg.

Mr Bailey told the Evening Post he could not believe his eyes whenhe saw the 1/4in-long needle tip, which appears to be from a sewingmachine.

He said: "Eleanor has got scratches right across her leg. Whoeversewed the trousers should have looked more carefully.

"The end of the needle had snapped off and was left attached tothe inside of the trouser leg.

"You don't imagine you need to check your child's clothes forneedles before you dress them in the mornings.

"What if the needle had been left in the sleeve of a garment?Imagine how easily it could have gone in my little girl's eye.

"We're lucky in some ways that it was in the leg."

The couple say they are now taking legal advice.

They bought the Tesco Cherokee own-brand trousers at a Tesco storenear Nottingham while visiting Mr Bailey's parents.

After discovering the needle, they immediately sent a complaint toTesco via their customer website.

Mr Bailey claimed he was angered by the reply e-mail.

It read: "Thank you for e-mailing Tesco.

"Unfortunately due to a high volume of e-mails there may be aslight delay in our response back to you.

"If your e-mail is regarding cancellation of a grocery,entertainment, flower or book order, please call."

When the Evening Post contacted Tesco, a company spokesman said:"We apologise to the family for any inconvenience caused and we willnow look to fully investigate this matter.

"We would urge them to return the garment to us, so this processcan be got under way.

"The safety of our customers is paramount and this is something weare taking very seriously.

"Our products go through rigorous testing systems before reachingour stores."

Injury claims legal expert Stephanie Cope, a partner at BurroughsDay solicitors, in Charlotte Street, said it was possible the couplecould successfully file a compensation claim.

She said: "Tesco would be fully entitled to carry out a fullinvestigation.

"Claimants, such as this family, have to be able to prove theircase on the balance of probabilities.

"The recovery period would determine the level of compensation."