A total of 100 dangerous hoverboards, seized at the Port of Dover, are to be destroyed.

Canterbury magistrates made the order following an application by Kent County Council’s Trading Standards department.

The items, technically called “balance wheel products”, had been found by UK Border Force last December.

Magistrates heard the three pallets containing the hoverboards were the only goods on a haulier’s vehicle but the accompanying paperwork described them as "shoes and T-shirt."

There was no mention of balance wheels or electrical goods in general.

Border Force contacted Trading Standards and officers found that the items had two-pin plugs, instead of the three-pin plugs required in the UK.

The only markings on the boards, which were intended for delivery to a company in Birmingham for its Christmas trade, were a sticky label attached to the underside, which gave instructions for use and CE mark.

Trading Standards officers worked with the Birmingham company and the Chinese manufacturer provided some paperwork for the boards.

On closer examination there were discrepancies within the paperwork and without proper labelling on the product they could not be confirmed as being applicable.

Magistrates ordered the boards to be forfeited for destruction, having recognised that if the goods were released they could end up back into the market and there would be no way of tracing them due to the lack of labelling.

The manufacturer was also ordered to pay investigation, storage and legal costs of just over £2,000.

The court ruled that there had been a breach of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, which state that no manufacturer or their authorised representative shall place machinery on the market unless it is safe.

Trading Standards operational manager James Whiddett said after the hearing: “During the investigation it was not possible to link the goods to the documents being provided.

"On inspection officers identified components on the balance wheels that were not included in the provided test reports.

“Officers then noticed physical differences in construction between the boards.

“It is vitally important that products are safe, to prevent injury to the user."

Mr Whiddett explained that products must be traceable with serial numbers and labelling.

Labelling is particularly needed as it provides the relevant information for a product to be recalled if there is a danger.

Mr Whiddett added: “We are happy with the outcome at court, as untraceable and potentially unsafe goods have been removed from the market.”