Faulty hoverboards seized ahead of Christmas period

UK border teams and trading standards staff have seized a number of faulty goods, including hoverboards, jewellery, toys and cosmetics ahead of the Christmas rush, The Mirror reports.

The operation helped the respective teams to amass a haul of faulty goods worth around £300,000, all of which may have been passed on or sold as potentially dangerous Christmas gifts. They were being transported through East Midlands Airport and have since been destroyed.

The faulty hoverboards were found to have unsafe charging adaptors and batteries; the jewellery, toys and cosmetics had various flaws and were believed to be destined for small online retailers to sell prior to Christmas.

The operation itself involved numerous professional groups, including UK Border Force officials and National Trading Standards Safety at Ports & Borders teams.

Lord Toby Harris, the Chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, said: "Our teams at East Midlands Airport and other border points have seen a significant spike in the number of unsafe electrical items arriving at national entry points in recent weeks."

David Bull – a spokesperson for the Leicestershire trading standards service – commented on the number of seized hoverboards specifically, noting: "We know these hoverboards are on a lot of Christmas wish-lists, but some small online sellers are not ensuring they comply with UK and EU electrical safety standards."

The National Trading Standards Board has issued a notice for consumers to "be on their guard when shopping online." People are being encouraged to undertake research into the seller and product before they buy and be wary of deals that "look too good to be true."