Hoverboards Seized Over Fears They Could Explode

Thousands of hoverboards have been seized by authorities over fears they could explode.

The gadgets are tipped to be one of this year's must-have Christmas presents - but National Trading Standards (NTS (Oslo: NTS.OL - news) ) have confiscated 15,000 of the 17,000 self-balancing scooters examined since October 15.

Officials have said most had "non-compliant electrical components that could explode or catch fire".

NTS chairman Lord Toby Harris said: "Our teams at sea ports, postal hubs and airports have seen a significant spike in the number of unsafe hoverboards arriving at national entry points in recent weeks and are working around the

clock to prevent dangerous items from entering the supply chain.

"We suspect that most of these products are being imported for onward sale domestically as Christmas approaches."

Many of the boards that were seized had non-compliant plugs without fuses, which increase the risk of the device overheating, exploding or catching fire, and cut-off switches which failed when tested.

Chargers, cabling and batteries were also found to fail safety standards.

Consumers have been given some key advice:

:: Never leave the device charging unattended, especially overnight. A faulty cut-off switch or plug without a fuse could lead to it overheating, exploding or catching fire.

:: Check the shape of the plug. The first unsafe boards identified often had a clover-shaped plug.

:: Check for online reviews that seem genuine and for information about the company's head office and landline number. Sites that have spelling or grammar mistakes can be an indication that it is not a professional operation.

:: Never be dazzled by a bargain. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

:: Report any concerns to Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06.