DEMAND has been high for the latest gadget topping this year's Christmas wish lists.

Yet over the past few weeks concerns have been mounting over the safety of hoverboards and, so far, more than 32,000 have been held at border points after testing found they were unsafe.

Responding to concerns, some major retailers have removed them from sale while online retailer, Amazon, has advised some customers who have bought hoverboards with non-compliant UK plugs to take them to recycling centres, saying they will receive a full refund.

National Trading Standards said more than 38,000 hoverboards had been "subject to intervention" at border points due to safety concerns, and 32,000 had been assessed as unsafe.

The figure is more than double the number that had been seized at the beginning of this month.

"Trading standards officers have detained the boards due to numerous concerns including safety issues with the plugs, cabling, chargers, batteries or the cut-off switches within the boards, which are designed to stop the battery from continuing to charge once fully charged," says a spokesman.

She explains a faulty cut-off switch can lead to the device overheating, exploding or catching fire.

"National Trading Standards is urging consumers to be vigilant this Christmas and avoid putting their households at risk with unsafe products," she adds.

Argos confirmed it had removed its line of hoverboards, called the Nevaboard, from sale while it carried out extra testing, and John Lewis has recalled its hoverboard branded the Selfy Stick Air Runner as a precautionary measure.

The Government has warned consumers to "think twice" about buying the must-have Christmas gift amid features over immitation devices being sold at discount prices.

David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, says: "One of the main problems that has emerged in recent years with electrical goods is substandard plugs or charges. As a minimum the three pin plug on the device should state it’s made to BS 1363. If it doesn’t include this information, then don’t buy the product.

"Wherever possible try and buy from trusted sources and don’t get sucked in by the desire to have the latest must have toy or gift.”

But it isn't just hoverboards causing concern for customers. Parents have also been warned to be vigilant when buying Christmas toys after harmful levels of chemicals were found in some counterfeits.

Fake figures based on Disney's Maleficent film were found to contain 18 times the legal limit of phthalates when they were seized by Warwickshire Trading Standards earlier this month.

The use of phthalates, which can disrupt hormones in children, is tightly restricted across Europe and toy manufacturers and products must contain no more than 0.1 per cent.

The chemical, used to soften plastics, can lead to an increased risk of cancer, asthma and fertility problems in later life if ingested when a toy is chewed, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute warned.

In January, fake Frozen dolls were found to contain phthalates, with thousands of the toys seized from shops in Pontefract and West Yorkshire.

Last year, cheap imports of plastic charms from loom bands sets were found to be 50 per cent over the legal limit for phthalates.

Several other cheap imports and counterfeit products such as dolls, swimming goggles, fancy dress make up, false nails and loom bands have also been seized or recalled because of unacceptable levels of the substance.

Robert Chantry-Price, a lead officer for product safety at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: "It is frightening to think that large quantities of phthalates are still being used in children's toys, especially when it can cause such serious long-term consequences to a person's health.

"Phthalates are carcinogenic, mutagenic and can cause reproductive problems but, despite legislation to the contrary, significant amounts of these substances can be found in a wide range of toys and child care products.

"If these toys fall into the hands of very young children or babies, it's more likely they will chew on the plastic and consume the chemicals,

"Trading Standards services are continuously working to tackle the issue but it is vital that consumers remain vigilant too."

Mr Chantry-Price advised parents to be cautious and not fall for the first deal they see, buy only from reputable shops, beware of products that are drastically cheaper and look at the packaging for the distributor's details and a CE mark.