E-SCOOTERS currently being trialled in Whitehaven have been branded as "pointless" after a woman was handed a driving ban for riding one while drunk.

Eighty of the electric-powered vehicles have been available for hire in the town since March.

Ppolice have revealed there have been a number of complaints about the scooters, which can travel at speeds of up to 11mph.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: "The introduction of E-Scooters in Whitehaven Town Centre has seen several calls to police relating to anti-social use of them.

"On April 17 a 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged with an offence due to being drunk whilst riding an E-Scooter."

Dana Hawkins, 20 of West View Road, Distington appeared at Workington Magistrates Court on May 17.

She admitted one charge of driving an e-scooter on Lowther Street while almost twice the legal limit for alcohol - she had 67mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeding the limit of 35mg.

She was banned from driving for 16 months, and fined £200. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £4 and costs of £85.

Cllr Graham Roberts, who represents Harras Ward on Whitehaven Town Council, criticised the vehicles.

He said: "I can't see the point. They're not for old people, they're for young people and you need a driving license for them.

"You couldn't carry shopping on them. I can't for the life of me see how these scooters are going to improve things.

"A lot of people have said to me they feel when they're walking along the pavement that somebody could run into them.

"It's like all this E-drive stuff, the disposable batteries of the green agenda are going to be a big problem. The Government needs to invite me to sit on the think tank for transport! I think we need to look again.