A major children’s publisher has launched an investigation after a sharp blade was found in the packaging of a magazine.

Robyn Andrews, 27, was in Folkestone town centre with her mother Karen Carolan and her 21 month-old son Callan last Friday when the incident happened in a WH Smith’s branch in Sandgate Road.

It was at about 11.45am and Callan and his grandma were queuing to pay for the Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom magazine they had picked up off the stand which came with a free toy.

Ms Carolan began opening the plastic packaging in the queue so the toddler could play with the toy.

After unwrapping the plastic, and handing over the toy, the blade was revealed in-between the toy and the magazine.

The item had a plastic yellow coating at one end, with a child’s sticker on it, and the blade was exposed.

Miss Andrews said: “The blade was behind the pack of toys, you wouldn’t have seen it unless you opened it up.

“I normally would have given it to him straight away.

“My mum couldn’t believe it, she was gob-smacked and more shocked as she picked it up thinking it was a toy.”

Miss Andrews’ details were given to the staff at WH Smith and the magazine was handed back to them.

Managing director of Redan Publishing Ltd Julie Jones said: “We understand this must have been a deeply distressing experience for Ms Andrews.

“The safety of our readers is of the utmost importance to us and we are taking this matter very seriously.

“We are currently in the process of conducting internal investigations as to how the item could have got into the bag so that this does not happen again.”

Ms Andrews added. “I dread to think what would have happened if Callan did pick it up.”