COPS have caught 100 illegal e-scooter riders in London over the last week after a YouTube star died in a crash riding one.

The Metropolitan Police said that people caught driving the scooters are usually given a warning but 10 have been fined and had their vehicles seized in a crackdown.

5 An e-scooter rider, who was stopped by the police and given a warning, was asked to get off and push the scooter Credit: PA:Press Association

5 Riders have claimed there is a "grey area" around the laws for e-scooters Credit: PA:Press Association

However, riders who have been issued with warnings have argued that electric scooters are better for the environment, and the "grey area" around their use needs to be clarified.

It comes after a Sun Online investigation which found that many online adverts for e-scooters only come with scant information about the law.

Of 20 adverts from 20 different websites, the investigation found that only two made clear that using the vehicle on public roads was illegal.

E-scooters are similar in design to a traditional child's scooter but are powered by an electric motor, meaning they can reach speeds in excess of 30mph.

They are increasingly being used for short journeys in a number of cities in Europe and the US, but can only be used on private land in the UK.

The law is old. It's a bit of a grey area. We really need to resolve it because this is a thing you want in a city, rather than traffic David Carboni, e-scooter rider

YouTube star and TV presenter Emily Hartridge, 35, became the first person in the country to be killed while riding an e-scooter when she was struck by a lorry in Battersea, south London, earlier this month.

The following day a 14-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury after crashing into a bus stop in Beckenham, south-east London.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, head of roads and transport policing at the Metropolitan Police, said: "It's important when these things happen that we do make sure the public are fully aware of the risks associated with the use of e-scooters."

WHY ARE E-SCOOTERS ILLEGAL? In the UK, e-scooters fall under the definition of a motor vehicle. They must adhere to motor laws, including having insurance, number plates and an MoT. They must have mirrors, brake lights and indicators. It is illegal to ride them on all UK roads, cycle lanes and pavements. E-scooter riders face a £300 fine and six points on their driving licence. It is only legal to ride them on private property with the landowner’s permission.

Mr Wingrove led an operation at a busy junction in Islington, north London, on Friday morning.

At the junction, the officers stopped and issued warnings to three riders, with others received fines for aggravating factors such as travelling too fast or ignoring a red light.

He insisted he understood "both sides of the debate" as some people feel e-scooters should be permitted on UK roads.

However, he warned they are "not designed or tested" to be ridden on roads.

Under the Highway Act 1835, e-scooters are banned from being ridden on pavements while the Department for Transport (DfT) says it is an offence to use them on roads as they do not comply with motorised vehicle requirements such as insurance, tax and driver testing.

Mr Wingrove added: "It's not as easy as flicking a switch between one day they are illegal and the next day suddenly being legal.

'OVERZEALOUS' LAWS

"It's not as straightforward as that. There are a lot of things to think about.

"For the time being, we'll educate the public, advise, and, where we need to, we will take enforcement action."

One of the riders caught during Friday's operation, David Carboni, said it was "a little bit shocking" to be given a warning.

Mr Carboni, who bought his e-scooter last week, said: "They're such good vehicles for the city. They're reducing congestion, they're reducing pollution. You really want to be able to have something like this to use.

"The law is old. It's a bit of a grey area. We really need to resolve it because this is a thing you want in a city, rather than traffic."

Another rider who was stopped said he was using his e-scooter for commuting because "it doesn't go very fast but it goes fast enough".

He described the laws regarding their use as "overzealous" because the majority of e-scooters are "equivalent in terms of safety to a bicycle".

MOST READ IN NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Latest 'BIG FRIENDLY BEAR' First pics of sergeant shot dead at police station as pals pay tribute HERE WE SNOW! Leeds hit by SNOW as temps plummet to -5 as Brits brace for 65mph gusts today Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS EUGE NEWS Princess Eugenie 'so excited' to be expecting baby as Andrew & Fergie share joy DAYTIME DRINKING Nightclubs to open from 3pm with half-price drinks to beat 10pm curfew

He said he would probably sell his e-scooter following the police warning, adding that his journey to work will now take twice as long on an overcrowded London Underground train.

One man was approaching the junction on an electric unicycle - which is also banned from UK roads - but carried out a swift u-turn when he spotted the police officers.

5 Emily Hartridge, 35, was the first person to be killed on an e-scooter Credit: Refer to Caption

5 Officers in Islington, London, have been giving warnings and talking to riders about the risks with the electric vehicles Credit: PA:Press Association

5 Three riders were given fines after riding the scooters too fast and running red lights Credit: PA:Press Association

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.