Rental e-scooters and e-bikes now available 24/7

Dott operates more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters in the west

An e-scooter and e-bike scheme is set to end its midnight curfew and run a 24/7 service from Wednesday night.

E-vehicles in Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire operated by Dott will now be available around the clock - five years after the e-vehicle hire scheme was first introduced.

A Dott spokesman said the change would give people greater flexibility and offered "a safe, sustainable travel solution for those working late".

The move was supported by Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, who said it would give more options to people working in late-night jobs like healthcare or hospitality.

The e-scooter trial in the west - first run by Voi, then Tier and now Dott - is one of the largest in the UK and Europe, and involves more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters.

Dott said in preparation for the change it had boosted its in-app safety messaging, which reminded users to stay visible, follow traffic rules and never ride while intoxicated.

Iqbal Ahmed, Dott's head of public policy for the UK and Ireland, said: "Safety is at the heart of our approach, and we're committed to encouraging responsible riding across the region."

Ms Godwin said e-bikes and scooters were "an important and growing part of our transport mix".

"Since the summer, we have been working to strike a better balance. Working with Dott, we have already increased responsible parking and, with councils, will be rolling out more marked parking bays," she said.

She added more than 4,500 fines had been issued since she and the region's police and crime commissioner, Clare Moody, launched the Scoot Safe scheme in August.

Riders must be 18 or over and have a driving licence or a provisional licence to use Dott vehicles.

Those riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs risk losing their driving licence or face prison time.