Enforcement officers from the Office of Fair Trading are visiting local retailers to check the safety of hoverboards - one of the most popular gifts this Christmas.

The OFT says that 88 per cent of the self-balancing scooters that have been examined on entry to the UK have been found to be faulty.

A spokesman said: 'There has been a huge spike in the number of these items arriving in recent weeks, destined to end up as gifts under the tree this Christmas.

'Consumers should not let a new fashion or craze cloud their judgement and remain vigilant at all times, to avoid taking home an unsafe product.'

The safety risks include issues with the plug, cabling, charger, battery or cut-off switch.

John Peet, chief inspector of trading standards at the OFT, said: 'We are aware of hoverboards being offered for sale via local social media sites. Our advice is not to purchase goods from such sites unless you know for certain who the seller is. With regard to enforcement, traceability is the key. If you know who you purchased goods from it makes it easier for us to establish who is in the supply chain.'


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