Rome, Jan 06: Italian police said yesterday they had seized thousands of counterfeit toys, video games and tapes in the first three days of the new year that were intended to meet a rush for gifts from a legendary old witch.
They said the 10,000 badly made toys seized on the Naples to Rome railway line could have endangered children and were en route to meet the demands of those who will be searching for a present tomorrow from the epiphany witch or ''La Befana''.
Legend has it that La Befana flies around Italy delivering presents to children on the Christian Epiphany holiday, the final sprint for exhausted Italian parents after the Christmas marathon.


Bureau Report