A group of about 1,400 people allege that they have been burned by fungicide in some leather sofas. They believe that trading standards authorities are failing them, and their lawyers are saying that tens of thousands of people might be affected, and that the authorities should make retailers take the sofas back.

The sofas, imported from China, are said to cause blisters and rashes.

Doctors say they have treated hundreds of patients with "sofa rash." Some are warning that warmer weather in coming months is likely to increase the problem. Dr. Sandra Winhoven, a consultant dermatologist, said that, "The substance that's causing the sofa dermatitis outbreak is a fungicide, and this fungicide has a very low vapor point. So when it gets warm, more of it gets released."