A MOTHER spent more than £200 on a motorised scooter for her son for Christmas - and then found out it was illegal for him to ride it in a public place.

Lisa Abel, 37, from Darlington, bought the £220 petrol-powered vehicle for son Kieran Jackson, 15, at Ward Brothers Trade Direct, in McMullen Road.

She said she assumed the Japanese Hurricane scooter was a child's toy that could be ridden anywhere.

But when Kieran used it on Darlington's Branksome estate, he was told by police officers he was breaking the law.

"He was only out there five minutes, just going up and down our street," said the mother-of-four.

"Next thing we know, the police come. They said he's not allowed it. Its got no number plate and no documents because it's for kiddies.

"It cost us a lot of money and that doesn't come easy.

"I'm sure there'll be lots of families in the same boat after Christmas."

Inspector Dave Hammond, from Durham Police's road policing unit, said: "Many parents don't realise that these scooters cannot be ridden on the road or pavement.

"They also cannot be ridden on private land without the permission of the landowner.

"We issue posters to warn parents about buying them, but clearly this lady has been unaware of the restrictions.

"Like with a moped, you need to be 16 and have a licence to ride one of these scooters.

"Even then, if they are used on the road, they need an MOT and to be taxed.

"There are dangers in riding the scooters - some can go up to ten or 12 miles an hour."

David Ward, owner of Ward Brothers Trade Direct, said the shop had seven signs up warning customers that the scooters could not be ridden in a public place.

"We always tell the client that the scooter is for private road use only," he said.

"Every assistant knows to do that and every customer is told.