Police patrol on green scooters

The scooters are described as an "eco-friendly crime-fighting tool"

Traffic police in a Hampshire city have taken delivery of new environmentally friendly electric bikes.

Portsmouth is the first place in the UK to introduce the Vectrix Maxi-Scooters.

Hampshire police's vehicles clock up more than 15 million miles each year and the force hopes the zero-emission scooters will cut its carbon footprint.

The two new battery-powered bikes cost 20p to charge up, have a top speed of 62mph and a range of around 68 miles and are cheap to maintain.

John Bradley, Hampshire Constabulary's fleet manager, said: "We have been looking at this machine for over 20 months and are very excited to be the first police force in the UK to enter a six-month trial.

"We are keen to evaluate the benefits of operating an electrically-powered scooter and hope that if the trial proves successful that it could be adopted for use in forces across the UK."

Insp Roger Price, head of the force's motorcycle unit, said: "The Vectrix is an eco-friendly crime-fighting tool, enabling us to provide additional reassurance and a visible policing presence within our communities.

"We are keen to see how it performs and best meets the demands of modern-day police work."