Toyota Prius Toyota has recalled 437,000 Prius worldwide

The recall of 437,000 Prius worldwide - 8,500 inthe UK - is the latest blow to Toyota, which is in the midst of recalling more than 7 million vehicles worldwide because of problems with floor mats, which can trap accelerator pedals, and faulty accelerator pedals that are slow to return to the idle position.

The 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid is the world's top-selling hybrid car.

"I apologise for causing trouble and worries for many customers over the quality and safety of Toyota," President Akio Toyoda said in Tokyo.

"We sincerely acknowledge safety concerns from our customers," he said.

"We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority."

There have been about 200 complaints worldwide about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads. The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure.

The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.

In all 53,000 Priuses are being recalled in Europe, 223,000 in Japan and 133,000 in the US.

Toyota said it would suspend production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan as the company doesn't have the updated software for those models yet.