A mother is seeking legal advice after discovering a Tweenies toy was being marketed under a trademark she owns.

Julie Lancaster was shocked to find a Squiggles character was being sold exclusively in Argos shops, its brochures and on the catalogue company's website.

The 37-year-old former policewoman was alerted to the problem by an eagle-eyed Telegraph & Argus reader who spotted the purple and white puppy was on the shelves.

Mrs Lancaster, of The Haven, Thorpe Edge, who runs a cottage industry making the Squiggle pull-along toys and registered the name two years ago, went straight to the store in Keighley.

"I couldn't believe I was able to buy one. It was the last one in stock and they told me they were not getting any more in until next week but you can get it all over the country," she said.

"I had to buy it to show there was evidence of infringement. Then I contacted a firm of solicitors in Leeds who are going to look into the case and let me know where I stand."

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus on Tuesday, BBC bosses changed the name of the Tweenies character to Izzles at the last minute after initial checks failed to reveal somebody owned the rights.

Lucrative spin off merchandising was understood to have been changed and some estimates put the cost to the BBC of making changes at £500,000.

Mrs Lancaster had received an offer via e-mail of up to £15,000 from London-based Pearson-Clarke Associates to give up her rights to the name and now believes they were speaking on behalf of BBC Worldwide, which markets the Tweenies.

She was suspicious of the deal but when the mother-of-three discovered it was the children's programme and tried to negotiate they said the matter was closed.

Mrs Lancaster said: "It would be lovely to speak to the people responsible for this to negotiate directly because everything has been done behind closed doors."

Izzles was introduced to viewers alongside regulars Bella, Fizz, Jake, Milo and Doodles the dog when the new series started on Monday.

Today, BBC Worldwide said it was aware that product had been featured in the Argos catalogue under the name Squiggles which has now been superseded.

"The product referred to is exclusive to Argos for a short time and will then be widely available under the name Izzles."