ASTONISHED motorists were forced to slam on their brakes after a man decided to take his dog for a walk tied to a mobility scooter.

This scooter was spotted trundling along the busy A351 – which has speed limits ranging from 30 to 60mph – on Sunday lunchtime with a dog tied to the back.

Motorists say it was a miracle no one ploughed into the back of the tiny green buggy but police insist the man was not breaking any laws.

One onlooker, who sent in the photograph, asked: “Can you tell me how the man in this disabled scooter is allowed to drive in the middle of a busy road taking his dog for a walk?

“You will note that he’s tied his dog with a piece of rope to the disabled buggy and was taking it walkies.

“Cars were having to slam on their brakes and overtake. Where are the police when you want them?”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Obviously it would be advisable for them to use the pavement that’s on the left but the photo doesn’t actually show any road related offences.”

According to government rules on powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, vehicles with an upper speed limit of 8mph can be equipped to be used on the road as well as the pavement.

However, the rules state: “When you are on the road you should obey the guidance and rules for other vehicles; when on the pavement you should follow the guidance and rules for pedestrians.”

Last year the Daily Echo reported how a rise in the number of complaints from resi-dents led officials in Christ-church to launch a special mob-ility scooter rider safety drive.

PC Dave Williams, who was pictured putting a mobility scooter through its paces, said at that time: “There were complaints from local residents about the manner in which the scooters are driven.”