UK retailers recall hoverboards following government advice

Retail ombudsman says items should be returned and vendors can be held liable under Consumer Protection Act

Britain's biggest retailers have recalled hoverboards after the government told consumers to think twice about buying them as Christmas gifts and new figures showed that a large number of unsafe devices have been shipped to the UK.

A spokesman for National Trading Standards said that of over 38,000 devices inspected between 15 October and the end of last week, more than 32,000 were deemed unsafe. Several hoverboards are known to have exploded or caught fire around the world.