Nannas around the world are in grave peril, if kids try to copy the concoction a Roald Dahl character whipped up for his grandma in the novel George’s Marvellous Medicine, researchers say.

In Dahl’s popular 1981 book, young George’s grandma grows to the size of a house after taking the lad’s homemade ‘medicine’ prepared from 34 household items.

Aware that lockdowns may see “budding pharmacists” try to recreate the medicine, two paediatricians from the Royal Derby Hospital in the UK crosschecked each of the ingredients against a national poisons database.

The weird list of items included toothpaste, gin, perfume, “thick yellowish liquid for cows” (ivermectin), dog flea powder, “Nevermore ponking deodorant”, antifreeze, washing powder and “purple pills for hoarse horses” (an equine NSAID).