Thousands of so-called hoverboards have been seized in Britain as a number of them have overheated, exploded or caught fire. However, the only warning for Maltese consumers so far is to wear protective gear while riding them.

A post by the London Fire Brigade on social media.

The self-propelled two-wheeled device has been promised since 1989, when the second part of the movie Back to the Future suggested that in 2015, we would be floating above the ground on a hoverboard.

Disappointingly for some, the version of the board that actually made it to the stores this year does not hover, but runs on two wheels instead. Still, it has been reported as one of the most popular Christmas gifts.

The hype over the hoverboard, which has even been banned from streets and sidewalks in London, was suddenly cut short in the UK when some 15,000 were seized over major safety risks, mainly faulty plugs that increased the risk of overheating, exploding or catching fire.

In Malta, however, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has carried out basic tests on imported devices and so far it has resulted that there are no similar problems.

Market Surveillance Director Michael Cassar told this newspaper that the only issue so far was lack of instruction manuals in some cases, which the importer was asked to supply. Mr Cassar meanwhile warned that the device was not adequate for outdoor use.

On Friday the authority also warned that those who ride these hoverboards should wear protective gear and read the instruction manual before they actually use the product.

The warning was issued soon after it was reported that a teenager riding a hoverboard in west London died after being hit by a bus on Thursday.

When contacted, a supplier of hoverboards in Malta said the manual which came with his products urged people to wear protective head, arm and knee gear, RC World Toys and Hobbies director Stephen Mifsud said.

The company has been importing the gadget for three months, he said, adding that the MCCAA had been very precautious.

While it usually took around a day for items to go through Customs, it had taken three days for this new device to be given the green light after the authority had tested it.

Mr Mifsud explained that the problem with the hoverboards seized in the UK was an unfused plug that did not adhere to British standards. A short circuit could also be caused because of batteries of low quality or a charger without an automatic cut-out which stopped the battery from overloading (switched-mode power supply).