Parents have been warned about the dangers posed to young children by mini-motorbikes.
The warning, contained in a joint statement from the Health and Safety Authority and the Director of Consumer Affairs, was issued to coincide with the rise in sales of such vehicles during the Christmas period.
According to the HSA, a number of tests undertaken in various European Union countries have found many models of small motorbikes are badly built, have poor brakes and are fire risks.
"They may seem harmless, but parents should be aware that a mini-motorbike is not a toy, even if it appears to meet safety requirements," the statement said. "Mini-motorbikes have a petrol engine and can reach speeds at which serious accidents can occur."