Westminster City Council has begun seizing dockless bicycles that have been left on roads and pavements across central London.

The city council said that dockless bikes are regularly found blocking pedestrian crossings and obstructing the pavement – forcing pedestrians and wheelchair-users to move into the road.

The local authority has been in contact with the bike operators to see if the issue could be resolved but they reported that they have been ‘inundated with complaints’ so have to take action now.

Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, cabinet member for City Management and Air Quality, said: ‘The council has begun seizing dockless bikes that we find blocking pavements and roads in Westminster. Trying to walk down some of our streets has become like attempting an obstacle course and we are fed up finding these bikes dumped across the city.

‘Anyone in town this summer will see these cycles abandoned. It’s a nuisance and potentially dangerous, especially for those with disabilities.

‘We’ve contacted the major dockless bike operators and made it clear that if they don’t remove their bikes from the pavement the council will - and we’ll charge them for doing so.

‘Any money we raise will go towards improving cycling infrastructure on our streets.

‘Westminster City Council is supportive of cycling and the many benefits it brings, particularly when it comes to cleaning up air quality. We want to find a solution that works for everyone but, in the meantime, people living and visiting Westminster shouldn’t have to put up with this every day.’