Stoke-on-Trent residents are being warned to check the rules before buying e-scooters and electric bikes for Christmas, with vehicles at risk of being seized if they are used illegally.

The warning comes from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police as part of Operation Transom, a crackdown on the illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and other nuisance vehicles.

Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for safe and resilient communities and housing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "We know e-bikes and e-scooters can look like an exciting Christmas present, particularly for young people, but we want people to understand exactly what they are buying before they spend their money.

"An e-scooter might be legal to buy, but that doesn't mean it's legal to ride it around your local streets or parks.

"If it's used illegally, you could lose the vehicle as well as facing action yourself.

"Operation Transom is about making our communities safer and tackling the vehicles that are being used illegally or causing a nuisance. We want people to enjoy Christmas, but we'd much rather they knew the rules before putting one under the tree."

E-scooters can legally be bought in the UK, but privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be ridden in public including public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, parks or other public spaces.

They can only be used on private land with the permission of the landowner.

Illegal use of an e-scooter could lead to a fine and penalty points, and the e-scooter being seized by the police.

Sergeant Nathan Moghaddam, of the Stoke-on-Trent north local policing team, said: "Nuisance vehicles have been identified as one of the top concerns of local residents across Stoke-on-Trent, and we are actively working to take robust action against those who put other road users and pedestrians at risk by using them.

"I would urge parents to know and understand the law surrounding e-scooters before purchasing one, they cannot be used on public roads, pavements or public spaces and your child will risk having it seized from them.

"We will continue to work alongside our local partners to target those who use vehicles illegally or anti-socially across Stoke-on-Trent."

The city council has also urged shoppers to make sure any electric bike they buy complies with UK regulations.

A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "A compliant e-bike must have pedals, a motor with a maximum continuous power output of 250 watts and must stop providing assistance at 15.5mph.

"Bikes that do not meet these requirements can be treated as motor vehicles and are subject to different legal requirements."

The city council also highlighted that e-bikes and e-scooters use lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a serious fire risk if they are damaged, modified, poorly manufactured or charged using an incompatible charger.

A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "To report nuisance vehicles, please email [email protected] or call 01782 233400, for all emergency situations, please report to 999. Alternatively, you can report anonymously via CrimeStoppers.

"Don't get caught out this Christmas. Check the rules before you buy."