A MOTHER has appealed for help to get back her son's precious Christmas gift after it was stolen from outside their house.

Andrew Hargreaves had been given a customised Go-Ped by his parents as an early Christmas present about three weeks ago.

The petrol-powered scooter, which cost £1,700, was Andrew's pride and joy, but it was taken from the family's Land Rover outside their home in Rhodes Avenue, Blackburn.

Now Andrew's mother has hit out at the thieves who stole the scooter, saying they could be out causing mischief on a machine her son uses care- fully. Mum Dawn said: "It was his Christmas present and he's gutted.

"Someone might start using it on the roads and causing a nuisance. At least he used it properly on the race track. This could give people who use them properly a bad name."

Go-Peds were classed as motor vehicles after a High Court case three years ago. To be used on public roads, they must be registered and drivers must wear crash helmets, hold a driving licence, insurance and road tax.

But police have declared that the 25mph toys are not suitable to be used on highways.

So Mark used his scooter every Thursday night at Blackburn Go-Kart centre, until it was stolen from the family's car.

Mrs Hargreaves said: "This was the be-all and end-all of his life. He has bawled his heart out and he even walked to school through all the fields to see if he could find it.

"We're hoping we might get it back because somebody using it on the road would get pulled over by the police."

Andrew's Go-Ped has a large engine on the back, a silver exhaust pipe, black handlebars, and two forks at the front.

Inspector Jim Ellis of Blackburn police confirmed the theft had been reported.

He said: "Go-Peds are popular at the moment. They are difficult to trace because if you steal a car there is identification like a chassis number. With these scooters there is nothing."

Anyone found riding a scooter without insurance is liable to receive a six-point penalty along with a typical fine of £600 and by-laws also prevent them from being ridden in most public parks and on common land.