A five-year-old's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys were seized by airport security staff - because they look like imitation weapons.
Alfie Waine was carrying an eight inch plastic Leonardo sword, a Donatello staff and a silver light up laser handgun as he and his mum Emma Hardy went through security at Leeds Bradford Airport to catch a flight to Dublin.
But airport staff refused to let the youngster take the toys in Emma's hand luggage because they breached security regulations.
Emma, 31, said: "It's ridiculous. They just need to think sensibly about this. The flight is not going to be held up by a five-year-old boy with a plastic sword - they need to assess the risk that they could pose."
The toys were taken from Emma's hand luggage after security scanners picked up a potted candle inside her bags and they were searched.
Emma said: "He was really upset as they're his favourite toys. He could see that his toys had been taken out of his suitcase and was asking where they were going.
"He was especially upset when we were told they were going in the bin.
"It's so silly. They're plastic toys and he's a five-year-old boy.
"If he had started waving them about on the plane - which he wouldn't because they would be in the suitcase - nobody is going to be frightened about that."
"A bit of common sense wouldn't go amiss. I'm all for security but you've got to assess what the risk is. I can't imagine how this is a risk to security."
Airport spokesman Andrew Shaw, said: "We are directed through legislation that anything that looks like or replicates a firearm weapon must be confiscated.
"All passengers are given the option to take these items back to their car or post home.
"We confiscate a vast quantity of items and liquids in our daily operation and ultimately these items are disposed of by Leeds Bradford Airport."