FIRE crews have issued a safety warning after an electric scooter caught fire in Dovercourt.

Firefighters from Dovercourt fire station were called to Chaffinch Drive at 12.55pm on Wednesday and found an e-scooter alight.

Crews extinguished the fire and made sure the e-scooter was completely cool by 1.22pm.

Station manager Jason Gould said: "The owner was fixing the rear mud guard and accidentally damaged the battery pack, which started to spark and cause small explosions before catching fire.

"The owner was able to move the scooter outside and call 999, and our crew was quickly on the scene.

"The incident highlights the hazards of lithium battery packs, which are used in most e-scooters.

"If the batteries are damaged there is a risk they will catch fire, so please check your battery regularly."

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has advised people to only buy e-scooters from a reputable retailer and follow the manufacturer's guidance on charging and storing.

It said scooters should be stored outside and away from escape routes - and only charged during the day when people are at home.

People should avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures and should not over-charge it - once it is fully charged, unplug it and turn the charger off.

E-scooter riders should also check their battery regularly.

"If it gets damaged it could catch fire," a spokesman said.