E-scooters are on the roads and bus lanes of Slough from today - as it becomes one of 13 cities and towns taken part in trials approved by the Department of Transport.

The council is working with world leading electric vehicle company Neuron Mobility which is providing 250 distinctive orange e-scooters to rent as an alternative way to travel and 25 staff to co-ordinate the trial.

The staff will help riders learn how to use the e-scooters and the rules of riding as well as thoroughly cleaning them after use.

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The e-scooters can be picked up and parked at 60 sites shown on the Neuron app.

For single trips it will cost £1 to unlock the e-scooter and 18 pence per minute thereafter. More frequent users have the option to purchase Neuron passes on a subscription service, available for three days a week at a cost of £15, weekly at £22 and monthly at £36.

The e-scooters will have a top speed of 15.5mph for experienced riders and a 9mph top speed for beginners. Each is fitted with a licence plate which can deter misuse.

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Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for sustainable transport and the environment, had a road test on the e-scooter.

He said: “Riding a Neuron e-scooter was easy to get the hang of and I can see how practical they can be as an alternative mode of transport.

“Not only can they now be ridden on Slough’s roads as part of the trial but along the bus lanes to make travelling around even easier.

“They are only allowed on the roads with penalties when they are ridden on pavements.”

Riders have to be aged over 18 years old and hold a provisional or full driving licence to be permitted to rent an e-scooter.

They will only be permitted to be used on roads during the 12-month trial and riders will be able to use the town’s bus and on-road cycle lanes.

The rental e-scooters will not be allowed to be used on any pavement, even where cyclists are permitted.

Privately-owned electric scooters remain outlawed for use on any public path and road.