Matsushita, the group behind the Panasonic brand, today became the latest computer maker forced to recall PC batteries over safety fears.

The Japanese electronics giant said it was recalling 6,000 batteries sold in Japan on concerns that a strong impact could damage them and cause them to overheat.

The action follows similar recalls from Dell, which last month recalled more than 4 million batteries after pictures of one of its machines exploding were posted online. Apple later recalled 1.8 million batteries.

Agencies in Tokyo today reported that Matsushita refused identify the supplier of the batteries, but said neither its own Panasonic brand nor Sony had made them.

Both the Dell and Apple recalls involved batteries made by Matsushita's arch-rival Sony.

Sony has estimated that the two recalls by Dell and Apple would cost it up to 30 billion yen (£140m).

The latest recall places in question once more the lithium-ion technology used in modern PC batteries and the techniques used to manufacture them.

Matsushita said a faulty battery-pack spring was to blame for its recall. The recalls of Sony batteries came after impurities entered the manufacturing process that could then cause short circuits, overheating and explosions.

Shares in Matsushita closed down 0.6 per cent at 2,510 yen in Tokyo. Shares in Sony were down 0.8 per cent to 5,100 yen.

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