Kent County Council Trading Standards has warned people about buying cheap knock-off hoverboards this Christmas.

The two-wheeled machines are the must-have present of 2015 but fake ones, predominantly from China, are threatening to ruin Christmas.

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Hoverboards are the most in-demand presents this Christmas

The hoverboards are priced between £300 and £600 from reliable retailers – others are being advertised for £100 or less on auction sites and social media.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service had to be called after a hoverboard, which was bought online, caught alight while charging in Deal.

A reported £25,000 worth of damage was caused to the man’s kitchen.

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KCC Trading Standards Operations Manager James Whiddett said: “The first thing consumers should do is check the packaging. They won’t have manufacturer details on them.

“Plugs won’t go into your socket properly and without a fuse, they’re very dangerous. The product itself should have a CE mark on it and the ones we have found have nothing on them at all.

“These things have batteries in them that can overheat and catch fire and we’ve seen that happen in the county already. Remember the golden rule, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

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When the unmarked box is opened, the buyer finds a plug without a fuse that will not fit into the socket properly – plus a board that is packed with batteries that can overheat and explode.

To be sure customers have not been sold a fake, the instructions should include all the information needed to use the product safely and the manufactures name and address.

Report counterfeit products to KCC Trading Standards by contacting Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06.