LISTEN: Are hoverboards being sold in Glasgow dangerous?
They are becoming the most in-demand Christmas present for young people this year but there are warnings many so-called hoverboards are not safe.
Local councils have seized hundreds of the boards which they say have faulty chargers which pose a serious fire risk and could even explode.
Our reporter Lizzie Parker has been talking to Rupert Pedley, managing director of Librance, an action sports store in Braehead, about how to spot a safe hoverboard:
Renfrewshire Council’s Trading Standards Team detained two separate shipments of 210 hoverboards at Glasgow Airport last month.
The council say the boards that were seized are dangerous with seriously flawed plugs. They have no fuses, are so small that they need to be forced into - and prised out - of sockets, and they are so flimsy that the pins break very easily. They also say the adaptors supplied with the boards are also untested and likely to be inadequate. All these flaws create real risks of fire, electrocution and injury.
Inverclyde Council have seized unsafe boards being sold in shops in Greenock.
Costco also recently pulled its £400 Air Runner boards over concerns the plugs could cause electrocutions.
There have been at least two reports of fires caused by exploding hoverboard chargers in London and it's worried there could be similar incidents in Glasgow as many people buy the boards for Christmas.
Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board, said: “There’s a lot of pressure on parents at this time year to make their children’s Christmas dreams come true but these hoverboards could turn the holidays into a nightmare.
"If you’re going to buy one of these, get it from a reputable shop, be ready to pay the full price, ensure that the plug and transformer - as well as the board itself- all comply with British standards and that check it for batch numbers, serial numbers and the EC safety mark."
But consumers are also being warned that most hoverboards are not classed as toys and are not safe for children. Most boards run on more than 24 volts - the maximum for toys - and don't meet the strict regulations for children's toys.
Consumers are advised to buy from a reputable retailers and to ensure it is appropriate for the age of the rider. It is also illegal to ride the two-wheeled vehicles on roads or pavements.