SINGAPORE - Ikea has issued an immediate recall of its Patrull range of safety gates, after receiving reports of the gates opening unexpectedly and children falling down stairs.

Some incidents in other countries saw children requiring medical attention, the Swedish furniture giant said in a press release on Thursday (June 23).

The Patrull, Patrull Fast and Patrull Klamma safety gates are sold in all Ikea stores including Singapore, although there have been no incidents reported here.

Ikea said a third party investigation has shown that the locking mechanism for the gates was not reliable, despite approved tests to the required standards.

"At Ikea, we have zero tolerance regarding child safety. We want to offer safe and healthy products and we think that children are the most important people in the world," said Ms Maria Thorn, Ikea's acting business area manager at Children's Ikea in Sweden.

"Whenever we get indications of a possible safety issue with any of our products, we act. We cannot accept that there is a risk of injury while playing."

Customers who have bought a Patrull safety gate are urged to stop using it immediately and bring it back to any Ikea store for a full refund.

A proof of purchase receipt is not required, Ikea said.

For more information, contact Ikea's customer relations on 6786-6868.