A schoolgirl had to go to hospital last weekend after a toy she was playing with exploded in her face.

Sydney Forson, nine, of Dacre Gardens, Borehamwood, was in Kindercare toy shop, in Shenley Road, on Saturday, with her mother, brother and family friends when the incident happened.

The Saffron Green Primary School pupil was playing with a plastic stress ball filled with water and a red dye when the plastic split and the contents covered her eyes, face and body.

Sydney’s mother, Michelle Dry, 29, was buying products for the baby she is expecting, when she heard her daughter screaming.

She said: “She had the stuff all in her eyes so we had to try to wash it off. It had soaked through her clothes. She was sobbing.”

Sydney added: “I was a little bit shocked because I just squeezed it and that’s what you’re supposed to do. I have had this toy before and it didn’t happen. I shouted to my mum because it was dripping from my eyes.”

Ms Dry spent three hours with her daughter at Barnet Hospital after Sydney complained her eyes were itching but was later given the all-clear.

But Ms Dry is still angry.

She said: “The product should be taken off the shelves immediately to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I am really disgusted at the situation.”

Dilip Mithani, director of Kindercare said: “This is a best-selling toy and has passed all the tests. I think the kid must have put a nail through it or something.

“We have ordered more stock but if they find something wrong with it we will stop selling it. We sell hundreds of these toys, though, and have never had a problem before.”

Martin Grossman, managing director of H Grossman Ltd, which supplies the monster squeeze ball toy said: “The product is filled with almost 98 per cent water. It is fully tested and there are no toxins in it.

“I don’t know about this case so I can’t comment on how it broke, but there is nothing wrong with the toy.”