AN URGENT recall has been announced for three motorcycle helmets, including one child’s model.

The recall notice has been issued by Cheshire East council to the Cheshire-based importer Quads Inn, which is a trading name of Hough Mill Development.

Two helmets were discovered not to comply with UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation) safety standards while the third does not comply with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) standard.

The helmets in question reportedly failed rigidity and impact absorption testing, which means they could break on impact, resulting in serious head injury.

The ‘Qtech/Jix’ models, which were sold by Quads Inn on Amazon, eBay and its own website, www.quadsinn.co.uk, include Q7/FF007, a full-face helmet with integrated sun visor, labelled on the chin strap E9-13.10312; Q998, a flip-up front helmet and double visor, labelled on the chin strap with E9-05.1810 and FF601/JX-F601, a kids off-road/motocross/BMX crash helmet.

Owners of the helmets are instructed to stop using them immediately, however they will be unable to claim refunds from the manufacturer because following the recall notice, Quads Inn has ceased trading.

Cheshire East Council’s director responsible for regulatory services, Sean Hannaby, commented: ‘These helmets were batch tested in an accredited, independent laboratory and a number of them failed to meet the required safety standards.

‘The council has, therefore, issued recall notices to the importer, and is urging anyone in possession of one of these helmets to make them unwearable, preferably by destroying them.

‘Our trading standards officers have gone to enormous lengths to track down likely purchasers through eBay and Amazon and other outlets. We would urge anyone who believes they may have bought one or are using one of these helmets, to check through Cheshire East Trading Standards or through Citizens Advice.

‘We believe that these helmets could present a serious risk in the event of a road accident, while the helmets sold for use by children do not meet the safety standards to be permitted on UK roads.’