A statement warning residents to "think twice" before buying an e-scooter as a gift this Christmas was issued by Hounslow Council as their sales are set to increase.

Ahead of the Christmas buying season, warnings about road rules and penalties for e-scooters in London have been echoed by the Metropolitan Police and Hounslow Council.

The riding of privately owned e-scooters on London's roads and pavements is currently illegal and riders risk fines, points on their licence, and e-scooter seizures if they use them on public road networks.

Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council said: "As we approach Christmas - we understand that buying an e-scooter as a gift for yourself or a loved one can be tempting, especially as you can get them from many popular retailers.

"However, the current law is clear. You can buy one but you can't legally ride it on a public road, cycle lane or pavement in Hounslow borough - it can only be used on private land.

"So please think twice before buying an e-scooter as a gift this Christmas."

He added that a fine of up to £300 could be given and six penalty points on your licence.

The Met has so far seized a total of 3,637 privately owned e-scooters this year.

Last week the Met released a further appeal calling for e-scooter retailers to be responsible in the run-up to Christmas when it is anticipated that sales for the scooters will likely increase.

In June this year, an e-scooter rental trial was launched by Transport for London (TfL) in six London locations.

Boroughs signed up to the trial so far include, City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Richmond, Southward, Tower Hamlets (inc. Canary Wharf), Westminster and Camden.

There are currently 3,585 rental e-scooters on the roads as part of this trial.

These rental devices have a number of safety features includingalways-on lights, GPS controlled parking and no-gozones -meaning they can only be parked in specified locations and cannotbe ridden in certain areas and have a unique identification number on every vehicle.

Will Norman, Mayor of London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: "E-scooters have been on our streets for a while now with a woeful lack of regulation, and we know they're not going away.

"That's why we are running a rental e-scooter trial in London with much safer, legal rental e-scooters, to take learning from and to see what part e-scooters can play in London transport as we recover from the coronavirus pandemic."