The toys were lined up in the sunshine, glittering with excitement for the oncoming Christmas season, bursting with excitement to meet the little girl or boy who will fall in love with them.
And then the steamroller started up.
Elation turned to fear as the toys realised the horror about to befall them. They were among the hundreds of toys confiscated and crushed by NSW Fair Trading this Christmas.
Before vision of the annual toy destruction brings tears to your eyes, keep in mind that it's all in the name of safety.
Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello said toys could be dangerous.
"Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh and Pikachu toys might look adorable, but if they're non-compliant and unsafe, we must act to protect consumers," Dominello said.
"It is our job to keep the shelves safe -- we make no apologies for that."
In what must be one of the least joyful jobs in the country, the office's safety officers inspected toys at 746 businesses and found 47 lines that were non-compliant.
Under Australian Consumer Law, individuals caught selling dangerous toys face a maximum fine of $220,000 while companies can face fines of up to $1.1 million.
