Waveney MP Peter Aldous and Lowestoft mayor June Ford skilfully manoeuvred their way around an obstacle course as part of a mobility scooter safety event in Lowestoft.

The MP and mayor opened the latest Safe-Scoot day in Lowestoft town centre on Friday as they raised awareness of using mobility scooters and wheelchairs safely.

After the success of the inaugural event in 2011, Lowestoft Shopmobility, Waveney District Council, Suffolk Police and Lowestoft Vision teamed up to hold the Safe-Scoot day in the town centre.

Margaret Oldham, chairman of Lowestoft Shopmobility, said: 'We want to keep the town safe for people using mobility scooters and wheelchairs and for pedestrians in the shopping centre.

'This event is informing people about the correct speed to go in town, how they should be insured for accidents, which scooters can be used on the road and which ones can't, why they should not overload their scooters and why at all times they should give way to pedestrians and be always on the look out for children or any adult who cannot hear them coming.'

Mr Aldous and Mrs Ford praised the organisations involved before they both tried out the mobility scooter obstacle course.

After weaving around the cones, they had to tackle a tricky reverse parking manoeuvre, before heading back to the start-point and past the crowds of people walking in town.

Mr Aldous said: 'It was a little bit easier than last time. It does bring forward to me that mobility scooters do provide people with an opportunity to freely get around, but it is very important when driving on the mobility scooter that people keep to the required speed and safely use the thoroughfare.'

Mrs Ford added: 'It was exhilarating. The first couple of times I knocked the cones, but then I had a clean round. It is important that mobility scooter users must not exceed the 4mph speed limit, as it can be so dangerous.'

She added: 'This is a really good thing being done here.'

Waveney District Council supported the Lowestoft's Safe-Scoot event once more following a request by the Waveney Disability Forum, which is made up of people with disabilities and provides a collective voice on disability issues.

Lowestoft Shopmobility were on hand to offer a free maintenance check to people's scooters. Police chiefs were also hand to offer advice, and Lowestoft North Safer Neighbourhood Team acting inspector Steve Wright said: 'The aim is twofold – to raise awareness among non-users of scooters to understand what it is like to drive a scooter, and also from the mobility scooter users point of view it is about reminding them to keep to the speed limits in the town centre and using the scooters safely.'