Queen bans hoverboards

Hoverboards and drones have been banned from a popular park run by the Queen.

They may have been a popular Christmas gift this year, but new owners of hoverboards and drones in the UK will not be allowed in Windsor Great Park over safety fears.

A spokesman for Windsor Great Park - run by The Crown Estate - said its decision was in line with Crown Prosecution Service guidance, according to The Sun.

He added: 'We have put up signs as a safety reminder to our thousands of visitors.'

Windsor Great Park, which covers 4,800 acres and spreads out in front of Windsor Castle, is open to the public - but only the Queen can drive down the Windsor Park's Long Walk (apart from park rangers).

The Long Walk is an avenue lined with horse chestnuts and plane trees, which was originally planted with elms by Charles II.

Hoverboards have been plagued with warnings over safety after a number of them have blown up when plugged in to charge.

Online retailer Amazon has told customers who bought 'hoverboards' to throw them out after concerns they can catch fire and Trading Standards officials revealed that 80 per cent of hoverboards are unsafe.

More than 32,000 hoverboards were held at the UK border earlier this month after they were deemed not safe to use.

Boards with low quality batteries are feared to be prone to exploding, with fires said to have been caused by batteries in cheap models bulk produced in China then rebranded in the UK and US.

In the US the Federal Aviation Administration made a prediction: More than 1 million drones would be gifted on Christmas -- wrapped up with pretty bows and set under the tree next to less dangerous pajamas, ties and "Frozen" DVDs.

The Washington Post reported it's a good thing that Santa is now largely out of the American airspace, because many of those drones are now careening wildly through the air, crashing into lawns, cars, roofs and grandmas. Twitter is loaded today with tales of aerodynamic woe.

Americans seem pretty good at buying drones -- flying them, not so much. It will be a Christmas miracle if nobody gets hurt.