Fire risk of children’s quad bikes

VANCE MILLER

QUAD bikes found in a well-known businessman’s warehouse were of high risk to children and could have burst into flames, a court heard.

More than 100 police and Trading Standards officers raided kitchen salesman Vance Miller’s Oldham premises where they found a consignment of the bikes imported from China that were destined for sale.

Mr Miller (42) is accused of flouting safety regulations in relation to the bikes.

Motoring expert David Griffiths told Manchester Crown Court that several of the bikes he examined were a high risk to anyone who used them.

He said he found fuel leaking on to the engine of a child’s quad bike. He said: “This is a bad safety situation with no way of turning off the fuel. An engine spark would set off any fuel.

“It’s a nightmare situation like that — petrol has to be safely contained, it has to be able to be an absolutely spot-on fuel system.”

Mr Griffiths, who has more than 40 years’ experience as a vehicle engineer, said he found a string of faults with the bikes he was given to analyse.

He criticised the lack of protective features which could mean that small fingers become trapped in the mechanism. He said: “If children mess about they could get their fingers caught.

“Any exposed chain that goes around is so simple to guard — then you take away the danger. We’re talking about children who don’t understand.”

He also criticised the absence of a fuel tap and said that loose battery leads could cause an electrical fire.

But a customer with one of Mr Miller’s quad bikes said he has had no problems with his bike, which was a different model from those inspected by Mr Griffiths.

Peter Campbell, who works for Mecca Bingo Club, in Bolton, said: “It’s brilliant. I’ve had no problems whatsoever. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

Mr Campbell, an experienced motorcyclist, said: “I’ve been on my friends’ quad bikes who live out in the country.”

Mr Miller, who owns Kitchens, at Maple Mill, Cardwell Street, Oldham, denies possessing and acting as producer for dangerous products and putting them on the market, failing to adopt safety measures and carry out tests.

He also denies breaching a suspension order.

Proceeding