A SHOCKED father said his son could have died after a set of batteries were found in a World Book Day costume.

The dad, who lives in Bradfield and has requested to remain anonymous, purchased two costumes from Asda alongside his fiancé for their children to mark the annual celebration of reading.

The family dressed their two-year-old son up in a George Pig outfit in a nod to the hit children’s series Peppa Pig, and sent him into nursery.

But when he arrived home, the 47-year-old dad was horrified to find a lithium battery had fallen out of the outfit and another was still inside.

He said: “My boy is absolutely mad on Peppa Pig so when the costume got delivered it went straight into his wardrobe before he could show it off on World Book Day.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Outfit - the costumeOutfit - the costume

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“We dressed him up and took him to nursery.

“When he got home we took the costume off him and as I removed it a lithium battery dropped out.

“When I checked again there was another hiding in the pouch of the outfit.”

The dad, who also has a five-year-old daughter, said the batteries had nothing to do with the costume and he believes they had been left inside by the manufacturer by mistake.

He added: “I was shocked and panicked when I found it.

“It had me questioning if there were just two batteries in there and I was constantly looking out to see if he was getting ill.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Deadly - the batteriesDeadly - the batteries

“It had me on red alert for most of the day just making sure my son was OK.

“It’s not a tiddlywink in there but a lithium battery which can kill children.

“To be in a pouch where a child can put their hands is so dangerous.

“God knows what would’ve happened if my son had put his hand in the pouch and swallowed the batteries.

“I don’t think he would be here today.

“I think if he swallowed one we would’ve lost our son.

“It’s unbearable to think about what could’ve happened to him.”

Asda has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.