Two Crayola craft boxes for children have been withdrawn and a recall issued over concerns sand in the kits may be contaminated with asbestos.

Owners of the Crayola Touchy Feely Craft Box and Crayola Discovery Craft Box should stop using the products immediately and keep out of the reach of children, the government said.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards said the kits present "a risk to health as the sand may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos".

They are the latest in a string of children's products recalled due to the risk of asbestos contamination this year, which consumer group Which? called a "worrying trend".

Asbestos is a banned substance because it poses a risk to health even at low levels, the government says.

The Crayola kits, which were made in China, had been sold by retailers including Argos, Asda, Sainsbury's and The Works.

The Works, in its recall notice for both products, said: "Testing has shown that the sand inside some products may contain trace levels of asbestos.

"As asbestos should not be present in any amount, we are recalling the affected items as a precaution."

It is recalling Discovery Craft Box items sold between August 2025 and April 2026, and Touchy Feely Craft Box items - listed as Sensory Craft Box - sold between March 2025 and April 2026.

The Discovery Craft Box is also being recalled by Asda, and both are being recalled by Hunter Price International Limited, the importer.

The Office for Product Safety & Standards said if the sand is still in its packaging it should be placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped securely and stored away from children.

People should wear gloves and a mask to clean up sites where the sand was used - with wet cloths to avoid generating dust - and double bag the sand, gloves, mask and cloths.

It also says to "keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been cleaned".

Customers are advised to contact the retailer they purchased the kit from for a refund.

There have been several dozen recalls of products so far this year due to the risk of asbestos, sold by multiple retailers including John Lewis, Hobbycraft, Amazon and eBay, according to Which?.

Its head of consumer protection policy Sue Davies said: "It is deeply concerning that another children's craft product, particularly from a major brand like Crayola, which is sold by big-name retailers, has been recalled due to potential asbestos contamination, continuing a worrying trend of recalls involving this deadly substance.

"This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of product safety checks before items reach shop shelves."

She said manufacturers and retailers must improve their processes to ensure hazardous products "are identified and removed before being sold to consumers".

The Office for Product Safety and Standards should look into whether toys containing asbestos are being sold on online marketplaces, which have less regulation, she added.

Crayola has been contacted for comment.