Stores slap ban on Heelys

Thousands of children will get them this Christmas – but the craze of shoes with wheels has failed to impress supermarkets in the region.

Many have now banned the shoes, called Heelys, amid fears customers or staff could get knocked down by youngsters whizzing by. Youngsters wearing the in-vogue shoe, which has a retractable wheel, are regularly seen skating up and down the aisles of supermarkets. The smooth floors and wide aisles are perfect for practising with the shoes.

But notices are going up at stores in the region telling children to remove their wheels before entering.

At Sainsbury's at Wolverhampton's Bentley Bridge, a sign says action has been taken "to reduce the risk of accidents to our customers and colleagues".

Manager Steve Smith said there had been no specific accidents but added: "It is on the grounds of health and safety that we have implemented this ban.

"We don't want to have a case where a customer or member of staff is injured."

The ban is thought to be the first of its kind in Wolverhampton, but other stores in the West Midlands and Staffordshire, including Asda and Sainsbury's in Cannock, have introduced bans.

Roger Vincent, spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "It's the same with skateboards or roller skates; if you use them sensibly, you are less likely to get hurt.

"With Heelys, however, because they are regularly used around shopping centres, there is more of a possibility of there being a lot of other people around in that environment. Provided they are used in a sensible manner, Heelys can be safe."