Parents who buy this year's latest Christmas craze -- mini-motorcycles, gopeds and buzzboards -- could be encouraging their children to break the law, police have warned.

Both Blackpool Council and police are urging mums and dads to think twice before buying youngsters the pint-sized motorised presents as they may not realise they require the same tax, MOT and insurance documentation as full-sized adult vehicles.

Strict legal regulations also mean they can only be driven on the public highway but a properly trained and licenced driver who has completed a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) Test and is aged 16 or over.

According to police there are an increasing number of serious accidents due to unqualified riders losing control of their vehicle.

A spokesman for Blackpool police, Sergeant Peter Blackburn said: "Owners of these vehicles could be breaking the law without realising it and we want to make young people and parents aware of the dangers. Using these scooters irresponsibly jeopardises the safety of the user and those around them, and we don't want to be ones first on the scene having to pick up the pieces.

"The only places these vehicles can be used are on private land and with the landowner's permission.

"These are not toys but vehicles capable of significant speeds."

Under new legislation police can now seize mini-motorcycles, scooters or gopeds if they are causing anti-social nuisance.