E-scooters will not be allowed in Richmond Park, officials have said.

The Royal Parks said e-scooters would cause too much disruption in its parks and green spaces, where pedestrians have priority.

It comes as Transport for London (TfL) confirmed a year-long London-wide trial of an e-scooter scheme to start on June 7.

The Royal Parks said: "We will watch the London trial with interest, but we do not permit – and we have no plans to permit – the use of e-scooters in the parks.

"The parks and other open spaces we care for are principally places for quiet recreation and where pedestrians have priority.

"It is important that all our visitors feel safe in the parks and we believe that the speed and stealth of e-scooters will have a negative impact on people's experience of the parks, particularly those with young families, with mobility challenges or with a visual or hearing impairment.

"Allowing e-scooters to operate in the parks could discourage those who wish to walk to and through the parks and undermine the ambience of the green spaces."

Richmond Council said it had also designated the Thames towpath as a "no go" zone for e-scooters.

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