An increase in the number of babies injured by swallowing brightly coloured liquitabs used in washing machines and dishwashers has led to a health board issuing a safety warning to parents.

On average, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow is dealing with two cases a month of babies and toddlers swallowing or biting the capsules and being burned by the contents.

The alkaline chemicals in liquitabs can be fatal because they can make the throat swell, causing breathing problems, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said.

As part of a "Not for play ... keep them away" safety campaign with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the health board is urging parents to keep cleaning products out of reach and is distributing 16,000 cupboard catches to make it more difficult to open doors to the dangerous chemicals.