Electric scooters are set to appear on cycle lanes and bus lanes across parts of Somerset.

It comes after Somerset Council gave the go-ahead for a temporary scheme that will see e-scooters permitted to use the routes as part of a new trial.

Only scooters partaking in the trial with have permission to use the lanes for now - with all scooters prohibited from roadways with a speed limit of 50 mph or more.

The council said the trial would help them to understand the risks and benefits of allowing scooters access to more of the roadway. Depending on the findings of the trial, these changes could be rolled out further and become permanent. In a statement a spokesperson for the council said:

"The historical Somerset West and Taunton District Council area has been chosen to trial the use of Electric Scooters therefore the changes to temporarily permit Electric Scooters to use cycle lanes, cycle tracks and bus lanes is being introduced as an Experimental Order to assess their benefits and pending a decision by the government whether to extend the use permanently or not.

"E- scooters offer the potential for fast, clean and inexpensive travel that can also help ease the burden on transport networks and allow for social distancing. The intention is for the trial to run for a period of 12 months.

"The outcome of the trial will assist the government to decide whether to make legal the use of Electronic Scooters on roads. The Order shall come into force on the 30th day of June 2023 and will remain in force for a maximum period of 12 months."

For further information visit the Somerset Council website.