'Sword' walking stick withdrawn

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The chain pulled the cane from sale after the blade was discovered by a customer who then contacted the News of the World newspaper.

It follows the earlier removal of a range of jackets which were sold with an attached penknife.

The latest discovery was made by a customer whose partner bought him a wooden staff from TK Maxx. He told the newspaper that he became suspicious of the weight of the 35-inch stick. Having twisted the carved end, it gave way to a tapered sword.

A spokeswoman for TX Maxx told the News of the World that the walking sticks were artisan pieces and that its buyers were not aware of the concealed blades.

"We took urgent steps to remove them from the floor ..., therefore they are not available in any of our 220 stores," she added.

On Friday it emerged that a range of Swiss-branded coats had been pulled from sale after they were found to have a knife attacked to them by a chain.

On Saturday TK Maxx posted an "important customer statement" on its website. It stated: "TK Maxx takes the safety of its customers and associates very seriously. It is of the utmost importance to us. We have been surprised by events this week and want to reassure the public that these incidents were by no means intentional and that we greatly regret that this has occurred.

"We buy a huge range of products from thousands of international and reputable brand owners. But while we have processes in place and staff training programmes to prevent dangerous articles being sold in our stores, clearly our current system has not been robust enough."

"As a responsible company of our size, we are re-examining our processes and will strengthen them in order to prevent this from happening again."