Disney despair for little Leanna

1:30pm Friday 20th July 2007

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THE parents of a Malvern girl who badly cut her finger on a shattered children's perfume bottle have been left disgusted by the delays in Disney's action.

Following a series of complaints to the multinational leisure giant, five-year-old Leanna Burston has received a gold dress in the style of her favourite character Belle from Beauty and the Beast, but her parents say it took three weeks to arrive and it is far too big for her.

And they are fuming the perfume bottle is still on sale.

Dad Steve Burston said: "Leanna has received her dress which she is absolutely thrilled about but it's too big. We told them she was five-years-old but they sent her one for a nine-year-old. She can't wear it for another two or three years. She's really upset still and there wasn't even a note in the parcel to say sorry for what happened."

We previously reported how Disney launched an investigation into its small glass bottles after Leanna, a Great Malvern Primary School pupil, was left with blood pouring from her hand after she reached into her deep make-up bag only to cut her finger on a shattered perfume bottle in May.

The family were left in a state of shock and Mr Burston said Disney representatives told them the bottle had been withdrawn from all retail outlets.

However, a recent shopping trip proved otherwise when they discovered the product is still being sold in High Street shops across Worcestershire.

"They promised us the bottles had been withdrawn but they are still on sale," he said. "It's just appalling really - it's terrible."

Mum Rachel Burston said: "It would serve them right if the next child to cut themselves slits their wrist."

Disney spokesman Pieter Botterman said the perfume bottles are not sold in Disney stores any more and added that information has been passed onto other departments to stop them being sold in other shops.

"It probably takes a little while to for the information to go through," he said.

Mr Botterman said a larger dress was sent to Leanna because representatives had been told she wears clothes for seven-year-olds but do not make the dress she wanted in that particular size.

"I'm sure we can organise an exchange if they want but they will have to get in touch," he said.