A BRADLEY boy could soon be prevented from enjoying his hobby because of a change in the law.

Twelve-year-old Chris Chew has been riding his Go Ped around the streets of the village since Christmas.

But the popularity of the motor-powered scooters is becoming so great that police forces across the country have been forced to make snap decisions on how they stand in law.

Chris' mum, Patricia, says her son has already been spoken to by the police on three occasions.

She feels he is not doing anything illegal as he always wears a helmet and keeps to the side of the road.

But a spokesman for Skipton Police's traffic department said new rules meant anyone found riding a Go Ped on the road must be treated as though they were riding a motor-cycle.

That means you must be at least 16 year old, have an MoT certificate, a valid tax disc, lights and indicators.

Go Peds are the latest craze to hit the UK and are similar to a scooter, but powered by a tiny petrol-driven engine, the kind used in garden strimmers.

The machines are so versatile that some high-powered bankers in London are using them to beat the traffic during the rush hour.

Although the Go Ped is motor-driven, it can only reach speeds of up to 20mph, similar to the average speed of a bicycle.

"As far as I can see my son's doing nothing illegal, in fact he's a very sensible lad," added Patricia.

"If someone is wanting to cross the road he will stop for them and he keeps well into the side.

"The police are being told that there's a young boy riding around on a scooter so they naturally have to come out and investigate, but they were very nice about it.

"People have even stopped Chris and said what a fantastic thing it is."

A spokesman for Skipton Police's traffic unit said new rules had been issued on Go Peds.

"We have been instructed that anyone seen using these should be reported for the appropriate traffic offence if they do not meet the requirements for a motorcycle," he said.

"There is a prosecution going through the courts at Harrogate, but as this has not reached a conclusion, there is no case law concerning Go Peds."

He added that the Association of Chief Police Officers had recently expressed concerns about the use of the machines on the road.