DOZENS of people were hurt in crashes involving electric scooters in Berkshire last year, new figures reveal.

South Central Ambulance Service provided information of the 43 reports following a freedom of information request submitted by the Bracknell News.

The data shows the total number of records where 'e-scooter' or 'electric scooter' appears on the patient's record.

It is currently illegal to ride e-scooters on public roads outside of Government-backed trials, which began in certain areas last summer.

The government granted approval to multiple towns and cities, including Slough, to take part in a year-long e-scooter rental scheme, which started in October 2020, in a bid to promote and encourage greener travel.

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While it is illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter, it is legal to rent an e-scooter from a local authority as long as the rider is 18 and over, has a provisional or full driver’s license, and rides it in the permitted areas and only on the roads.

Since the trial began, citizens across England have voiced their concerns on the e-scooters’ safety such as reporting ‘dangerous’ riding both on the road and pavement, damage to property and vehicles, and selfish parking on the pavement.

From 2019 to 2020, the ambulance service responded to 43 incidents involving an e-scooter in the royal county.

The number of injuries involving e-scooters is one of the highest in Slough, where the current e-scooter trail is taking place.

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Data from the FOI shows 14 patients were seen by the ambulance service as a result of injuries from an e-scooter.

Similarly, Reading also saw the ambulance service treat 14 people for accidents involving 'e-scooters'.

Windsor and Maidenhead saw one patient hurt by an e-scooter, whilst Wokingham saw two.

Six patients in Bracknell and Newbury were seen by paramedics after being hurt by e-scooters.