The US Supreme Court has allowed restrictions against untraceable "ghost guns" to stand while an appeal by the White House is pending.

In July, a Texas court blocked a 2022 rule requiring self-assembled "ghost gun" kits to have serial numbers - legally making them a firearm.

Gun rights groups and gun owners had sued to stop the new rule.

The decision comes as the White House faces pressure to take more action on gun violence.

Tuesday's 5-4 Supreme Court ruling means that the regulation will stand while the White House appeals the Texas decision. That appeal could eventually end up back in front of the Supreme Court.

Ghost guns can be self-assembled and sometimes 3D printed, which meant they may not have a serial number and can be difficult to trace. Background checks had not previously been required to purchase the assembly kits.

The Biden administration's new rules, aimed at reining in the proliferation of "ghost guns", came into effect last August. The rules included requiring manufacturers of "buy build shoot" kits to be licenced and include serial numbers on the kits' frame or receiver, and for businesses selling these kits to also be federally licenced.