Police have seized more than 70 illegal electric scooters in Gloucestershire so far this year.

Gloucestershire County Council is currently taking part in a Department for Transport trial of e-scooters to gather evidence about their use and whether to change the legal status of these vehicles.

E-scooters are currently illegal to use on the public highway, although this has been suspended for e-scooters that are part of the trial.

However, the use of private e-scooters on the public highway remains illegal.

And Gloucestershire Constabulary have so far seized 74 of these vehicles since January.

Police and crime commissioner Chris Nelson said officers are trying their best and are seizing e-scooters at a rate of about nine a month on average.

And deputy police and crime commissioner Nick Evans said there has been a lot of misinformation about e-scooters.

His personal view is that there has been irresponsible retailing on behalf of retailers who market the vehicles which are not legal to use on the road.

“They aren’t making that clear,” Mr Evans said.

“When it comes to private e-scooters you cannot use them on the road.

“The way the constabulary is approaching this is that riders get two strikes.

“At the first strike you are told you cannot use it on the road and have to put it in the cupboard until March next year when the formal trial will end and the Government will then say what they are going to do with them in the future.

“And the second time, they will be seized as they are riding without insurance.”

He said the formal trial was the right way to approach the use of e-scooters as the vehicles provided by Zwings are insured and riders need a driving licence to use them.

Under the current scheme, trial e-scooters may be used on the road (except motorways) and in cycle lanes, within the approved trial area.

They must not be used on the pavement.