BERYL electric bikes have arrived inDorchester – with hire by the minute, or by the day.

120 of the distinctive bikes are available from 30 bays across Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland, with a phone app' used to unlock, lock and pay for their use.

For the unwary who fail to return the machines to their designated areas, marked out on the ground with paint, there could be an excess charges of £10 to pay. Beryl know at all times where the machines are with GPS tracking onboard each bike.

Designed to be virtually vandal proof the bikes are maintained by Beryl staff on a regular basis with an app able to tell you how much power each machine has available.

On a full charge most will be able to easily manage a 30-mile trip, the machines limited to a top speed of 25kilometres per hour, although they will go faster if freewheeling downhill.

Using the bikes to get around is not likely to replace buses, especially with the current £2 flat fare.

Unlocking the machine costs £1.50 and after that you will be charged 16p for each minute, on the standard rate – although you are able to reduce the per minute cost to 8p per minute by choosing one of several 'bundles' which include day and half-day use, or 100minutes. Rides can be paused, for a limited time, to allow for short breaks, with the electric motor clicking in automatically to help you along.

The machines are the same as those used in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area and those already in the Dorset Council scheme around Ferndown and Wimborne.

Deputy Dorset Council leader Richard Biggs declared himself happy with the bikes after a spin around the Chesil Centre car park at the launch event on Tuesday.

"They're easy to use and fun. I would imagine many people will really take to using them," said Cllr Biggs.

Dorset Council transport projects officer Darren Orchard, who was among the team to negotiate bringing the bikes to the Dorset Council area, said that initially the council was committed to a five-year contract with Beryl Bikes.

He said the authority would be interested in talking to those who might consider 'hosting' parking spots, or even pay for sponsorship on the bikes to help keep costs down.

"They're very convenient for getting to places without using a car and, of course, can be used for a one-way trip, dropping the bike off in one of the designated spaces when you have finished your journey," he said.