A SECOND shopping centre has banned trendy micro-scooters.

As reported in The Northern Echo earlier in the week, the Cornmill Centre, Darlington, has banned scooters being ridden inside, because of safety fears.

Now executives at Hartlepool's Middleton Grange Shopping Centre have followed suit, less than a fortnight after Christmas.

The ban was made after reports that several shoppers were nearly hit by the scooters, which can reach speeds of up to 15 miles an hour.

Signs have gone up at all entrances to the centre, stating that micro-scooters, in-line skates and bikes are not allowed inside.

Although staff at the Hartlepool centre had not had complaints about scooters, security staff had reported witnessing a number of near-misses.