Council consumer watchdogs have warned parents to beware of buying cheap knock-off hoverboards this Christmas.

The must-have toy is causing a stir in the run-up to the festive season, but a batch of dodgy ones, mainly from China, are threatening to ruin Christmas morning.

Firefighters have already had to tackle one hoverboard-related blaze in the county - when £25,000 of damage was caused to a house in Deal when one of the toys burst into flames.

From reputable stores they can retail for between £300 and £600 but some are being advertised for £100 or less on auction sites and social media.

The unmarked boxes are found to contain plugs without fuses which will not fit into sockets properly and a board packed with batteries which can overheat and explode.

On some there is also questionable advice on the instructions, with one manual saying: "Get off the bus, get off before you stop intelligent drifting scooter balance state, one foot down, the other one foot in the left drifting scooter again."

Kent Trading Standards operations manager James Whiddett said customers should always check the packaging first as the dodgy ones will not have manufacturer details on them.

"Plugs won’t go into your socket properly and without a fuse, they’re very dangerous," he said.

"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."

Buyers are also urged not to use a product if the instructions do not make sense, have spelling mistakes and do not contain the manufacturer name and address for contact in case anything goes wrong.

Trading Standards is warning residents to be vigilant when purchasing any Christmas gifts, not just hoverboards.

Advice includes only buying from trustworthy shops and outlets, looking for the CE mark which all toy packaging must display by law, as well as the BSI Kite and Lion quality marks for extra peace of mind.

If you are concerned about an electrical product you have purchased, do not use it.

Report counterfeit products to Trading Standards by contacting Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.