POLICE have issued a reminder to people who have purchased motorised scooters over Christmas to make sure they know the law.

Motorised scooters - or Go-Peds - are classed as motor vehicles and as such require driving documents, insurance, road tax and a MOT if they are over three years old.

Riders are also required to wear a safety helmet if it is being ridden on a public road as well as a driving licence.

PC Neil Hargreaves, Craven's youth action officer, said: "Since Christmas we have received a number of reports of young people as young as 10 years riding motorised scooters on public roads without protective headgear.

"I urge parents to check all the legislation regarding the use of these vehicles.

"If we don't keep these vehicles off our the roads, it is only a matter of time before we see a young person seriously injured or killed in an accident."

As the scooters fall into different categories there has been some confusion.

Some are made and designed as toys while others are built and designed for road use. But in all cases, whether the vehicle is petrol driven or battery operated, or has a seat or not, they are classed as motor vehicles and are subject to the road traffic legislation.

Anyone riding a motorised scooter in a public place or on a public road, including the grass verge, without the relevant driving documents, is liable to prosecution under the Road Traffic Act and, if convicted, might be subject to a fine and disqualification from driving.

It is also an offence to drive a motorised scooter on a public footpath and local by-laws prevent them from being ridden in most public parks and on common land.

People should also be aware that, under recently introduced legislation to prevent nuisance use of vehicles in public places, the motorised scooters may, in certain circumstances, be seized by the police.