London 'hoverboard' bus crash teenager dies

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene in Glacier Way, Alperton, on Thursday

A teenager riding a "hoverboard" has died in a crash with a bus, police have said.

The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene in Glacier Way, Alperton, west London, on Thursday night.

He had been riding a "self-balancing scooter" at the time of the crash, Scotland Yard said.

The boy has yet to be formally identified, and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course, police said.

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Eyewitness Jeffrey Mingle, from Edgware, north London, was crossing the road at the time.

He told BBC London: "I saw the guy on the hoverboard, I was just standing there next to him and then he fell into the road.

"He tried to get up but he wasn't quick enough and then he was hit by a bus, the 224. "

Writing on Twitter, Councillor James Denselow wrote: "Sad to hear about the death of a 15-year-old boy in Alperton last night who collided with a bus whilst riding a hoverboard."

Banned from the road

• "Self-balancing scooters" are known by various names including "hoverboards" and "rideables"

• Gyroscopes are used to counter-balance and control the speed of the wheels - with some models capable of travelling at up to 12 mph

• They are banned from use on public pavements and roads in the UK

• The Crown Prosecution Service has issued guidance stating they "are not legal for road use"

• According to the Department for Transport, it is only legal to use them on private property with the owner's consent

• The same applies to Segway scooters, with one Yorkshire man successfully prosecuted and fined £75 for riding one on the pavement