Kent officers seize 'dangerous' chainsaws at Dover port

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Nearly a thousand self-assembly chainsaws described as "extremely dangerous" have been seized at the Port of Dover.

Kent trading standards manager Mark Rolfe said 486 boxes of the chainsaws were being imported from China.

But experts put the machines together and found three faults, including failure of the chain and engine brakes and a delayed engine kill switch.

A Europe-wide warning had been issued to try to protect people, he said.

Mr Rolfe said the importer had told officers the chainsaws were destined for Poland.

"These chainsaws were intended for self-assembly, but were found to be extremely dangerous, even when put together by experts," he said.

"Not only should they be banned from sale in the UK, but even if they were intended for sale in Poland, we would not approve exporting them."

Trading standards officers now want the chainsaws destroyed, possibly by a charity which could sell the parts for scrap, Mr Rolfe said.