IMPORTED mini fruit gel sweets could cause children to choke, Wiltshire trading standards officers are warning.

The jellies contain a gum called konjac which does not dissolve easily and could stay stuck in the throat.

While no cases have been reported in the UK, the sweets have been linked to a number of deaths from choking around the world and people are being told to be careful.

Swindon trading standards group leader, Robert Taylour, said: "We'll be contacting Swindon shopkeepers to check they've withdrawn these sweets from sale.

"They're on sale in many small corner shops and it may not be easy to ensure they're all removed from shelves straight away.

"So we want to alert parents to the potential risk and be clear these sweets are to be avoided and children should not buy or eat them."

Imported from Asia, the sweets have a number of different brand names including:

ABC Mini Fruit Bites

New Choice Mini Fruit Gels

Rolin Mango Jelly Cup

New Century's Choice

Fuji Coconut Flavor Jelly

Jin Jin Conjac Coconut Mini Gel Snack

The jellies are in cups the size of individual mini pots of milk or coffee creamer. They are dome-shaped with a diameter of about 3cm tapering to 2cm, and they have a rounded edge, sealed with a foil lid.

The sweets are sold in bags, plastic jars or individually.

Children tend to suck out and effectively "inhale" the sweet, which contains a soft, slippery type jelly with a hard fruit-flavoured gum at the centre. This increases the risk of choking.

Konjac may also be identified as glucomannan, konyak, konjac gum, konyac, conjac, konnyaku or konnuyaku.