Trading standards officers have reported the first known case of a hoverboard overheating and going up in flames in Nottinghamshire.
Officials recovered the gadget, pictured above, from an address in the city earlier this week and are warning people to only buy the devices from reputable dealers.
The owners were able to quickly put out the flames after it apparently overheated while on charge. No-one was hurt and a major fire was narrowly avoided.
It comes as both city and county officers are scouring Notts for a batch of 20 cheap imported hoverboards which were brought in from abroad by a local dealer then sold on Facebook.
None of the models meet British safety standards and there are fears more could explode and even cause death or injury.
It is not yet known if the burnt model is one of the ones sold by the dealer.
The self-balancing scooters – dubbed ‘hoverboards’ – roll on wheels and have become this year’s must-have Christmas gift.
Three house fires have been reported in recent weeks in Kent, which it is understood were directly attributed to the boards overheating while being charged.
Earlier this week local trading standards officers issued advice on buying the gifts to ensure they meet safety standards.
Nottinghamshire County Council said:“In the rush to meet demand, untested and potentially unsafe items have been imported in huge numbers.”
“Problems include the chargers and internal electrics, which do not meet European or UK standards and come with inadequate instructions.”
