Unsafe hoverboards are destroyed

In the latest story of imported hoverboards that have failed safety checks, a UK trading standards office has destroyed dozens of the devices prevent them ever harming members of the public.

A consignment of 90 hoverboards imported from Hong Kong via Heathrow was intercepted by Surrey trading standards officers and sent for testing against electrical safety standards.

The boards were found to have defective battery packs and other faulty features which could have led to them exploding without warning.

The dangers of the boards were highlighted during the destruction process when some caught fire and had to be doused with a powder-based fire extinguisher.

Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing, said: ‘Our focus is on protecting consumers and the swift actions of our trading standards officers have prevented a large consignment of potentially dangerous products ever going on sale.’

The £7,500 consignment had been brought into the country via Heathrow Airport and sent to an inspection point in Surrey where officers with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards found possible electrical problems with the boards. A further haul of 50 hoverboards, also brought in through Heathrow, has been impounded by trading standards officers while investigations continue.

Full story and photos at http://news.surreycc.gov.uk